By Michael Gwarisa Tuberculosis killed not less than 1.7 million people last year in 2016 amid increased cases of drug-resistant (DR) forms of tuberculosis (TB), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has said. Four in five people with DR-TB remain undiagnosed, and only half of those started on treatment are cured. Two newer drugs to treat DR-TB – bedaquiline and delamanid – have been available for five years and could help save more lives. Dr Isaac Chikwanha, Medical Advisor for TB, HIV and Hepatitis C, MSF Access Campaign said less than 5 per cent of people who need the drugs actually receive them…
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Misihairabwi To Bring Menstrual Cups To Parliament
By Daniel Phiri OUTSPOKEN legislator and women’s rights advocate Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga says she is going to bring menstrual cups to Parliament to help move her motion on sanitary pads. Prices and access to sanitary pads have been a topical issue in Zimbabwe with rural girls and women said to be the most affected owing to their biological and economic status. It had to take legislators to lobby the government to scrap duty on the importation of raw materials needed to manufacture sanitary pads with a view to help reduce the…
Read MorePrevent a heart attack: The benefits of having regular sex
Partner “not in the mood” again? Then it might be worth sharing the following to change their mind! According to the latest studies, regular sex – that’s one to two lovemaking sessions per week – can provide some incredible boosts to your health and wellbeing. 1. Look younger Recently, Dr David Weeks, clinical neuropsychologist at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, revealed to a psychology conference that his extensive research had found older men and women with an active love life looked five to seven years younger than their actual age. But…
Read MoreLegalise Sex Work Says Shamva MP
By Kudakwashe Pembere SHAMVA South Legislator Hon Joseph Mapiki says government could benefit immensely from sex work if proper measures are put in place to avail basic health and daily needs in their profession. He said this during a SafAids Key Populations workshop on Friday where he recommended other Parliamentarians and attendants to put their emotions aside and map a way forward to address challenges facing Key populations so as to tap into the sector in the form of taxes. “I think the advocates here are being emotional, when discussing…
Read MoreVillage Health Post For Nyanga Community
By Michael Gwarisa THE ministry of Health and Child Care in partnership with Nyanga South Legislator Hon Supa Mandiwanzira this week commissioned the Bende Village Health Post in Inyanga as part of efforts by government to boost access to primary health care services in the area. In an interview with HealthTimes, Nyanga South legislator, Hon Mandiwanzira said the Health post has come at a time access to basic healthcare services was a nightmare in the Nyanga, Bende community owing to issues ranging inaccessibility of the area by health care providers…
Read MoreForeign Currency Shortages Push Sanitary Pads Prices Up- Manufacturers
By Daniel Phiri LOCAL sanitary wear manufacturers have blamed the prevailing foreign currency shortages and increases in raw materials prices for the astronomical increase in Sanitary pads and wear prices. In Zimbabwe there are currently two companies that manufacture sanitary pads, Onsdale (Farai sanitary pads) and Refreshing Sanitary Pads (Happy Sky pads). In an interview, Refreshing Sanitary Pads general manager Collen Sakala said the price increase is beyond their control as they are responding to economic factors obtaining on the local and international markets. “The increase was necessitated by an…
Read MoreGweru General Hospital Refuses To Treat Patient For To Opting Pay With Ecocash
A patient admitted at Gweru General Hospital on the 26th of October 2017 was not attended to on the basis that he had no means to pay for medical bills. The patient asked to pay through Ecocash but the hospital authorities insisted on cash or swipe. Despite his worsening condition, he was kept unattended, leading to some members of the public reporting the matter to the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa to sensetise other stakeholders. This type of behaviour is not expected at a hospital, a facility which should prioritise…
Read MoreSafeguard Security goes medical
By Daniel Phiri SAFEGUARD Security has partnered with Ace Air and Ambulance to offer life support ambulance services to its clients on the Rapid Response Service (RRS). The partnership will see Safeguard clients in Harare and Victoria Falls getting access to ambulance services without having to produce a medical aid card during emergencies. Although the service was introduced last month, already Ace has responded to about four medical emergency calls from Safeguard on behalf of its clients. According to Safeguard chief executive Andrew Mallon, speed response is vital especially in…
Read MoreHarare needs permanent solution to Typhoid outbreaks- CWGH
[dropcap][/dropcap]By Michael Gwarisa THE City of Harare needs to find a permanent solution to the recurring Typhoid outbreaks which have troubled the city since beginning of this year, Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive director Itai Rusike has said. Harare recently registered cases of Typhoid In Mbare, Matapi flats amid growing skepticism and doubt over the City of Harare’s capacity to resolve the issue in the short term. “The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) urges the Harare City Council (HCC) to urgently address the key drivers of typhoid in…
Read MoreTyphoid under control: Minister
By HealthTimes Correspondent The Ministry of health has allayed fears of a possible typhoid outbreak following reported cases in Harare, insisting that mechanisms have been put in place to curb the spreading of the disease. In an interview yesterday after touring Matapi Clinic in Harare where 123 typhoid patients were screened, Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa said the typhoid outbreak that hit Mbare, Harare, in the last few days is now under control, but urged all residents to be vigilant as they remain under threat of contracting…
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