Author: Healthtimes

Strict Medical Aid Law On The Cards

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa PUBLIC consultations to the Medical Aid Societies Bill have commenced amid indications that the new law could usher in provisions that could completely change the medical aid societies sector’s operations. Briefing medical practitioners and members of various medical aid societies during the Medical Aid public consultative meeting this morning, Pathologist in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Maxwell Hove said the proposed bill was meant plug leakages and loopholes that currently exist under the current Statutory Instrument. “If you look closely, you see that there are…

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Allocate Foreign Currency Towards ARV Procurement-CWGH

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa  THE Community Working Group on Heath (CWGH), has  called on government to prioritise allocation of foreign currency towards the procurement of Anti Retro Viral medicines ARVs amid revelations of massive ARV stockouts at public health centres and pharmacies. CWGH Executive director Itai Josh Rusike said it was disheartening that Zimbabwe which over the years made tremendous gains in reducing HIV/AIDS related deaths through multi-sectoral efforts, is now experiencing a serious shortage of Abacavir – a second line ARV drug to the extent that people taking that drug are…

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Zim Hosts Regional Radiotheraphy Workshop

Healthtimes

Staff Reporter  ZIMBABWE is this week hosting the IAEA (AFRA) Regional training workshop on Radiotherapy in a bid to boost capacity amongst radiographers from across the continent. Speaking during the event’s official opening, Health and Child Care minister Dr David Parirenyatwa said the cancer scourge was growing in Africa and there was urgent need to find find homegrown solutions to the crisis. “Radiotherapy is one of the often neglected but is one of the critical areas in our hospitals. More and more cancers are being discovered in our country with…

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Zim ARV Shortage Could Trigger Massive Drug Resistance

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa  ZIMBABWE today (21/08/2017) woke up to devastating news that the country’s public health and pharmaceutical institutions have been hit by massive Anti Retro Viral (ARV) drug shortages. According to an article in the Herald, HIV positive people on second line Abacavir ARV drugs are the most affected and they are being given a week’s supply of the drug instead of the traditional three moths supply due to stock outs. It is believed that the huge stock outs and shortages in drug supplies are being exacerbated by the…

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Hepatitis E Plagues Nigeria’s Borno State

Healthtimes

HealthTimes Reporter While the humanitarian situation has improved to some extent in several locations in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno State, it is disturbing that hundreds of people in the Ngala camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) have been infected with Hepatitis E due to poor living conditions and flooding, MSF has said. The highly contagious disease has spread quickly through the camp with 400 cases reported and four pregnant women dying in the past two months. “The situation in Ngala is very worrying,” says Nicoletta Bellio, Doctors Without Borders (MSF)’s medical…

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Medical professionals to review Medical Aid Society Regulatory Authority Bill

Healthtimes

By Kudakwashe Pembere Medical professionals will tomorrow discuss the Medical Aid Society Regulatory Authority Bill draft which was designed to address the discord between medical insurers, doctors and patients. Zimbabwe Medical Association president Dr Agnes Mahovha told journalosts on the sidelines of the ongoing ZIMA congress that they recently received the draft bill for assessment. The association has for quite some time lobbying the government to craft such a bill. “We received the draft of the medical aid society regulatory authority bill. And we have started go through it very…

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WFP’s Nutritional support gives hope to Zim mothers

Healthtimes

By Tatenda Rodney Macheka WFP is supporting more than 7000 children in Zimbabwe reap the long-term benefits of a healthy start to life. For Deladina Chiota, the anticipated joys of motherhood did not meet her exact expectations. When Deladina unexpectedly gave birth to twin girls — Gracious and Precious — her husband blamed her for bringing a double burden to his life, and left her. As a young, newly-single mother, Deladina braced herself and decided to embrace what life had offered.“There are two things in life for which we are never truly prepared: twins,” says…

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HIV Testing Now Mandatory in Zambia, Should Zim Follow Suit?

Healthtimes

By Mathew  President Edgar Lungu of Zambia yesterday announced the legalisation of HIVtesting and treatment in all hospitals without informed consent of patients. He made the announcement during the inaugural launch of a HIV campaign in the capital Lusaka. “Just the same way we don’t consult you for consent when we are testing for Malaria, we will go ahead and test you for HIV and we will counsel you and if you are positive, we will commence treatment,” he said. Just the same way we don’t consult you for consent when we…

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#BREAKING: Prophets Now Require Licences To Heal

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa PROPHETS and churches are now mandated to obtain licences to carry out deliverance and healing sessions, or administer any healing ointments or herbs to their followers, a top government official has said. The move is aimed at curbing extremism and healing malpractices obtaining in modern day churches and religious groupings which have resulted in many innocent souls losing their lives or falling victim to extreme health conditions. ALSO READ: Prophets Fueling HIV Drug resistance Briefing Journalists this afternoon(16/08/2017), Health and Child Care Deputy Ministry Hon Aldrin Musiiwa…

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Manicaland Records Highest Rate of Stunted Children

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa MANICALAND province recorded a 49% stunted growth rate in children in 2016, against an average of 26% owing to a high malnutrition incidence in the area. Briefing a Child Parliamentarians engagement meeting on Nutrition Budget advocacy in Bindura, Sustainable Rural Community Development Organisation Executive Director January Mvula singled out the high prioritisation of cash crops over food crops as the major driver of malnutrition and stuntedness in children in the area. “Stunting rate of Zimbabwe is at 27% with high number of boys. This Translate to 1…

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