Healthtimes |

Government Complacency in Dealing with the Doctors Strike A Cause for Concern

March 20, 2018 Healthtimes

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) says is deeply saddened by the lack of urgency on the part of the government in resolving the striking doctors’ concerns and demands regarding their wellbeing and the health of their patients. ZADHR wishes to reiterate that the primary responsibility in achieving the right to health lies with the government. We also note the lukewarm response as people are losing lives, emergency departments are shutting down, and the children and maternity units closed in major hospitals leaving the indigent further exposed.…

TB Wreaks Havoc In Midlands Province Prisons

March 19, 2018March 20, 2018 Healthtimes

AT least 14 percent of prison inmates in three correctional centres in the Midlands province, namely Gwanda, Shurugwi and Blue Hills probation centres tested positive for Tuberculosis (TB) according to an assessment conducted by the Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation (JHWO). By Michael Gwarisa Speaking to HealthTimes, JHWO Communications and Liaison Officer, Melody Mukundwi said they tested and screened a number inmates in the province and a number of them tested positive for the respiratory ailment. “JHWO is operational in three prisons Gwanda, Shurungwi and Blue Hills probation in Gweru. In…

Drought Threatens ART Adherence In Mudzi

March 19, 2018March 19, 2018 Healthtimes

Lack of sufficient food at household level as a result of a heat wave induced drought in Mudzi district is posing a threat to consistent adherence to Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in area, people living with HIV in the area have said. By Michael Gwarisa in Mudzi Community Art Refil Group (CARG) Dirstict Focal Person for Mudzi, Shupikai Chaparapata told Journalists during a National Aids Council (NAC) media tour last week that the food situation was bad and people living with HIV were finding difficult to adhere to ART in the…

Moonlight Testing Effective Tool In HIV Hotspots

March 15, 2018March 19, 2018 Healthtimes

PEOPLE coming for HIV, Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and cervical cancer screening services during moonlight testing sessions are more compared to those who seek Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services during the day at major hotspots in Mashonaland East. By Michael Gwarisa in Mash East The program is dubbed moonlight because the tests take place at night to help protect those who fear being stigmatised by being seen visiting the centres during the day. According to the National Aids Council District Aids Office for Mrehwa, the open air daylight session at…

Barriers Preventing Adolescents From accessing SRH services In Zim

March 15, 2018 Healthtimes

In Zimbabwe, a host of barriers are preventing adolescents, defined as aged 10 to 19 years, from accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services safely and confidentially without the consent of their parents. HealthTimes Reporter Without free and informative access to health services that include contraceptives, treatment for sexually transmitted infections and condoms, national studies show that rates of adolescent pregnancy and HIV are increasing, while knowledge levels around sexual health are declining. One study revealed that Zimbabwe has the highest teenage fertility rate in sub-Saharan Africa with one in…

CATS Driving ART Adherence In Children At Grassroots

March 15, 2018March 15, 2018 Healthtimes

COMMUNITY Adolescents Treatment Supporters (CATS) an Africaid, Zvandiri initiative which focuses on promoting HIV prevention, treatment and care for children living with HIV, has broken societal barriers to prevention through initiating well planned treatment adherence and tracking systems. By Michael Gwarisa in Mashonaland East Speaking during a National AIDS Council (NAC) Media tour, Zvandiri Mentor, Tinashe Chigadza said the CATS program had proven to be a force to reckon in promoting HIV prevention, treatment and adherence to medication amongst young people in Mashonalnd East. “My main role is to supervise…

NAC To Establish 30 Static Sites For Sex Workers

March 13, 2018March 13, 2018 Healthtimes

THE National Aids Council (NAC) is in the process of setting up 30 Static Health Sites around the country and boarder posts which will attend to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of sex workers (SWs) amidst indications that HIV prevalence amongst sex workers continues to rise nationally. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes on the sidelines of a Zimbabwe Aids Network (ZAN) organised breakfast meeting between Civil Society and the Business Sector on sustainable economic options and livelihoods for Key Populations (SWs and Prisoners), NAC Key Populations…

Nevirapine shortage plunges mothers into panic

March 13, 2018 Healthtimes

A national shortage of a key preventive medicine, Nevirapine, has heightened the risk of pregnant HIV-positive mothers passing the virus to their children. Information gathered by The Herald showed that Nevirapine syrup for neonates, which should be administered to babies within 72 hours of birth, has been in short supply countrywide since last year, with health institutions handling a large number of deliveries worst affected. SOURCE: THE HERALD Buy A Copy of The Harald for More details on the issue

#BREAKING: Chitungwiza Hospital Doctors To Join Strike Tomorrow

March 12, 2018March 12, 2018 Healthtimes

DOCTORS at Chitungwiza General Hospital have threatened to tomorrow join in the ongoing industrial action by doctors amidst indications that the situation at most public health institutions has deteriorated and doctors elsewhere were not giving in to the calls to end the strike. By Michael Gwarisa The revelations come at the back of a visit by the Health Professions Authority (HPA) to some of the major Hospitals, namely Harare Central Hospitals, Chitungiza Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where they were assessing the impact of the strike by doctors which…

New Public Health Bill More Progressive- ZLHR

March 12, 2018 Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) Senior Program manager, Tinashe Mundawarara said the newly gazetted Public Health Bill (PHB) was inclusive of various sections of the society which were side-lined in the old 90 year old document. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing Journalists during media engagement yesterday, Mundawarara said the issue of key populations was touched at a wider length in the new bill even though more still needed to be done to make it a perfect document. “As you might be aware, the ministry of health has managed to push…