Author: Healthtimes

International Year of Millets: a global opportunity to direct policy attention to the nutritional and health benefits of millets

Healthtimes

By Patrice Talla – FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative in Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Lesotho. This year we are celebrating the International Year of Millets. The year was endorsed by Members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its Governing Bodies and declared at the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in March 2021. FAO is the Agency taking the lead in celebrating this year. The focus on Millets could not be timelier. They offer valuable solutions in the face of…

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Researchers Close To Identifying Potential Animal Host For COVID-19 Before 2020 Global Outbreak

Healthtimes

FINDINGS from a recent study by the World Health Organization’s  (WHO) Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins on Novel Pathogens (SAGO), suggests that animals were present at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, Wuhan, China shortly before the market had been cleared on 1 January 2020, as part of the public health measures by Chinese authorities. By Staff Reporter These results according SAGO will provide potential leads to identifying intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2 and potential sources of human infections in the market. After discussions with the WHO secretariat and the SAGO…

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Zimbabwean Care Worker Sentenced 15 Years For Raping Disabled Woman in the UK

Healthtimes

A carer who raped a severely disabled woman in his care and got her pregnant has been given a 15-year extended prison sentence. By Stephanie Finnegan Leedslive Edson Munyikwa’s victim had to undergo a surgical abortion after it was discovered that she had missed a period. A judge at Leeds Crown Court described the case as ‘probably the worst of its type’ that he has seen during his career. Munyikwa, 55, was supposed to be providing respite care for the woman, who is unable to communicate verbally and has the…

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French Government supports routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccination in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

WITH World Health Day commemorations slated for April 8, 2023 looming, the Ambassador of France, HE Laurent Chevallier, and the French Regional Counselor for Global Health in Southern Africa, Dr Thomas Mourez, recently had a field visit in Harare assessing how the country is faring in routine immunization. The visit was facilitated by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and UNICEF. By Staff Reporter The visit comes after the French Government contributed 2.5 million USD towards the COVAX facility programme. The funding will strengthen routine immunization and the integration…

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Massive efforts needed to reduce salt intake and protect lives

Healthtimes

A first-of-its-kind World Health Organization (WHO) Global report on sodium intake reduction shows that the world is off-track to achieve its global target of reducing sodium intake by 30% by 2025. Sodium, an essential nutrient, increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death when eaten in excess. The main source of sodium is table salt (sodium chloride), but it is also contained in other condiments such as sodium glutamate. The report shows that only 5% of WHO Member States are protected by mandatory and comprehensive sodium reduction policies…

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Five cholera cases in Zim

Healthtimes

FIVE cholera cases have to date been confirmed in Zimbabwe with no hospitalisation and deaths being witnessed. By Staff Reporter The five were obtained after doing culture tests of 60 suspected cases. “Since 12 February 2023, sixty suspected cases of cholera have been reported in Zimbabwe from Chegutu (58), Mudzi (1), and Mutare (1). Of these Five cases have been confirmed by culture test, and as of 6th March 2023 there has been no reported death from cholera and no patient has been admitted for the disease,” Acting Information, Publicity…

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Zim Anti-Corruption Group Wants Doctors Banned from Running Private Surgeries and pharmacies

Healthtimes

The Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) says medical personal in Zimbabwe should not be allowed to operate private business such as private hospitals, pharmacies and others as it may be in conflict with their duties and responsibilities as doctors, nurses and pharmacists among other trades. By Staff Reporter Mr. Obert Chinhamo, the Director of the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa indicated that service delivery in the health sector is at it lowest because of medical personnel who spend most of their business hours working at their private businesses and…

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Zim Prophets Told To Register As Traditional Health Practitioners Or Face Imprisonment

Healthtimes

THE Traditional Medical Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe (TMPCZ) has told all traditional health practitioners including prophets, Apostles, Bishops and churches to register as Traditional Medical Practitioners or face jail. By Staff Reporter In a statement, TMPCZ gave all traditional practitioners up to end of March to finalise registration processes. The Traditional Medicla Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe (TMPCZ) hereby gives notice to all unregistered Traditional Health Practitioners to go and register in their respective provinces,” said TMPCZ in a statement. The required categories are Traditional Healers/Faith healers including Prophets, Apostles, Bishops,…

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Zimbabwe Deploys Brand New Cutting Age Tech To Enhance AMR Diagnostic Tests

Healthtimes

Over reliance on antibiotics has also led to the growing silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) over the years. AMR happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve and stop responding to antimicrobials over time. By Dr Tapfumaneyi Mashe The Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Escherichia coli (ESBL Ec) Tricycle study’s preliminary findings indicated that multidrug-resistant bacteria were widely distributed in Zimbabwe. Additionally, the 2015 AMR situation analysis in Zimbabwe revealed that only 25% of public health laboratories have the manpower, resources, and supplies required to perform culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing…

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Third person cured of HIV after stem cell transplant, researchers say

Healthtimes

A stem cell transplant has cured a man of HIV, researchers have announced. The patient, 53, is only the third person to be cured of the condition using the treatment. He appears to be the fifth person in total to be cured overall. He had not taken anti-retroviral medicine, or suppressants, for four years and has not relapsed. Similar to the other two stem cell transplant patients – one in Berlin and another in London – the man, in Dusseldorf, had the transplant to treat a blood disorder, which in…

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