Author: Healthtimes

President Salutes Zimplats…As Company Refurbishes Kadoma Hospital

Healthtimes

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday applauded giant Platinum mining company, Zimplats for refurbishing Kadoma General Hospital in line with modern day Universal Health Care (UHC) standards. By Michael Gwarisa in Kadoma Officiating at the handover ceremony and commissioning of equipment and refurbishment works at  Kadoma Hospital, President Mnagangagwa said there was still an infrastructural gap in the health sector and the refurbishment of Kadoma hospital by Zimplats was a wake-up call to other mining companies to also invest in health infrastructure. “In this world, economic performance and growth are vital in…

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Open Letter To President ED

Healthtimes

Dear Mr President: I hope this letter finds you well. I also hope that you will take time off your busy schedule considering its election period, to take a glance at my letter. As the election draws nearer, let me wish you the best of luck and let the best man win under a free, credible and fair environment. However, my letter is not a political one since i am not  much of a political writer and my bias towards health, gender and human rights issues unquestionable. This particular letter…

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No Joy for Medical Aid Companies after Elections

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S two main political parties, ZANU PF and the MDC Alliance have vowed to cleanse the Medical Aid services sector soon after the elections amidst growing concerns that the firms are engaging in double dipping tendencies with most players reportedly running private clinics, pharmacies and other services outside their operating regulatory framework. By Michael Gwarisa The industry is facing a plethora of problems, chief among them the high cost of medical services, which has excluded the majority of the people. The industry has elevated the more expensive secondary care and…

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United States launches program For orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced the launch of Pathways, a five-year $35 million program that will offer services to 250,000 HIV-affected orphans and vulnerable children, 59,500 households, and 15,000 vulnerable youth. HealthTimes Reporter USAID/Zimbabwe Mission Director Stephanie Funk stated: “USAID’s Pathways program will ensure that HIV-affected and infected children can access health services, including HIV prevention, care, and treatment, as well as prevention of and response to gender-based violence.” Operating in nine districts in Zimbabwe with high HIV burden, Pathways will put communities on a…

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Traditional Healers To Patent Medicines

Healthtimes

TRADITIONAL healers are working towards patenting as well as improve on the packaging of traditional medicines and herbs in a bid to protect their works against duplication as well as keep in touch with developing business trends. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at a Zimbabwe National Practitioners  (ZINIPA) meeting in Harare, ZINIPA founding President, Mr  Friday Chishanyu said it was time traditional healers move from old ways of doing business if they are to realize meaningful profits from their works. “We want to patent our work so as to avoid duplication…

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The Power of Virginity

Healthtimes

In Zimbabwe there are many myths around the subject of virginity and menstrual blood. By Hazel Stede The Myths: 1 Some people believe women should not walk among the cattle when they are menstruating as they may cause the cattle to lose their skin. 2 A woman must not put salt in the cooking or someone may get sick. 3 Women, when they are menstruating are unclean and not permitted to attend certain gatherings or church services. 4 If a man sleeps with a woman when she is menstruating, his…

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Sex Workers Conference Expose Health Workers Unprofessionalism

Healthtimes

NEGATIVE attitudes coupled with high level stigma by nursing and other health staff at various health centers is to blame for the high Anti Retro-viral Treatment (ART) default rate among sex workers in various parts of the country, sex worker organisations have said. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Gweru These revelations were made by sex worker organisations at the just ended National Sex Workers conference that was hosted by the Zimbabwe Aids Network (ZAN) in Gweru which aimed among other things to deliberate on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) issues…

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Vasectomy At 1% In Zim

Healthtimes

UPTAKE of vasectomy, which is a surgical procedure for male sterilization or permanent contraception is currently very low in Zimbabwe owing to deep rooted cultural beliefs, fear,  amongst a host of other factors, a top health official has said. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes, Director family health in the ministry of health and child care (MoHCC), Dr Bernard Madzima said uptake of the service was till very low but efforts were underway to ensure men get informed and educated about the issue so as to increase awareness and…

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Q&A: Unitaid looks to break down silos for better global health

Healthtimes

By Gloria Pallares GENEVA — The global health community is increasingly moving away from a siloed approach — favored in the height of the battle against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria — toward a more integrated methodology in the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals. Unitaid, a Geneva-based organization that invests in new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat the three pandemics, is one of the actors leading this paradigm shift alongside innovators from the private sector, governments, and donors. In April, Unitaid launched a call to improve fever diagnosis in children in…

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Balloons, disinfectant, brandy used in attempts to prevent pregnancy

Healthtimes

Fifty years ago, world leaders recognized family planning as a human right. Yet safe and reliable forms of contraception remain out of reach for hundreds of millions of people. UNFPA has collected dozens of examples of the ineffective – and even harmful – strategies people resort to while trying to prevent pregnancy, described in a new feature, “Unsafe, unreliable: Dangerous pregnancy prevention methods.” SOURCE: UNFPA These methods, often based on rumours and myths, range from damaging chemicals like disinfectants to household supplies like kitchen sponges. They include practices entirely without scientific…

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