Author: Healthtimes

Abortion policy and the vicious cycle of poverty

Healthtimes

By Memory Pamella Kadau The previous instalment submitted that abortion doesn’t bring about a moral dilemma as middle ground propagation would argue. It’s clear that safe abortion services should be made accessible to women and this demands policy and legal reforms. This article explored how existing policy framework on abortion perpetuates the vicious cycle of poverty on women and fuels child sexual abuse termed ‘child marriages’. Abortion and poverty Poverty wears the face of a woman and the untold story is that hundreds of thousands of women are trapped in…

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Pariranyatwa Hospital Casualty Ward Ceiling Collapses

Healthtimes

Officials at Parirenyatwa Hospital have confirmed the collapse of a ceiling in one of the hospital wards at Parireyatwa Hospital. By Staff Reporter In a statement, Parireyantwa Hospiatl said, “We have come across social media reports of an accident in our hospital. We would like to confirm the occurrence of an unfortunate incidence in the Physician’s Bay today (13/09/22) in the early hours of the morning. “A small part of the ceiling in one of the cubicles unexpectedly fell on two of the patients under observation in the cubicle. Both…

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Comprehensive Post Abortion Care is an Essential Component of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Critical for the Attainment of Health Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Healthtimes

In my years of experience working in sexual reproductive health (SRH), the most topical debates include the topics of unintended pregnancies, teenage pregnancies, sexual gender based violence (SGBV), and abortion among others. Termination of Pregnancy (abortion) is one of the most controversial and emotive issues across the social realm in a conservative society like Zimbabwe. The main thrust of social-cultural discussions in sexual reproductive health is around prevention of unintended pregnancies thus avoiding the topic of abortion completely. However, the dilemma is when prevention fails, what happens next? The Zimbabwe…

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BREAKING: Queen Elizabeth Dies

Healthtimes

QUEEN Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. Her family gathered at her Scottish estate after concerns grew about her health earlier on Thursday. The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change. With her death, her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead the country in mourning as the new King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this…

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A Dangerous Prognosis: Vulnerable migrants obstructed from getting essential maternal and child healthcare services due to Gauteng hospital payment policies and politics

Healthtimes

In South Africa, reports of xenophobic incidents are a daily reality but the use of the country’s strained public health system by migrants is now a hot-button issue as impartial access to healthcare has become highly politicized in recent days. By Dr Tasanya Chinsamy To reach a political objective, Operation Dudula’s anti-migrant protestors targeted the sick and vulnerable outside Kalafong Hospital in Tshwane where they profiled patients, allegedly by skin colour and language, turning away anyone who failed to pass muster. The protestors also targeted Hillbrow Community Health Centre where…

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The Politics of The Uterus

Healthtimes

The Lack of Adequate Information and Awareness on Safe Abortion Services among Young Women and Girls is Promoting Continuous Clandestine Abortions By Mufaro Musiyazviriyo The term abortion, generally makes people uncomfortable! In my work as a Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Program Officer, often times, I conduct awareness raising trainings and focus group discussions on SRHR issues with young women and girls in tertiary institutions and communities, where incidents of unsafe abortions have been reported. I have made it a habit to begin my introductions by mentioning the term…

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City of Harare/Nanotech Ink Water Chemicals Deal

Healthtimes

Council is set to save up to US$300 000 per month through using an alternative water chemical to be produced at Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Works. HCC Comms The City signed a deal with Nanotech Solutions which will see the two partners using modern technology to produce water chemicals locally. Speaking during a Special Council meeting held at Town House recently, acting finance director Mr Godfrey Kusangaya said financing the Nanotech Solutions deal for alternative water chemicals will save the City more than US$300 000 per month. Once we start…

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Government must intensify measles awareness and vaccination campaigns

Healthtimes

The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has urged the government to intensify measles vaccination and awareness campaigns to prevent further deaths as the highly contagious disease continues to claim lives  countrywide. By Staff Reporter In a statement, CWGH Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said, “…the worrying statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) indicate that since the measles outbreak in Mutasa district in Manicaland province last month about 700 people, mainly from the religious sects that do not believe in vaccination, have succumbed to the disease.…

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Saving Lives and Livelihoods helping Africa fight COVID-19; One-shot at a time

Healthtimes

The Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative, a $1.5 billion partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and the Africa CDC, is accelerating vaccination across the African continent. Considerable progress has been recorded across the four focus areas; purchase of vaccines for more than 65 million people, deployment of the vaccines across the continent, the development of a workforce that will manufacture vaccine in Africa and strengthening the capacity of the Africa CDC. So far, three countries have surpassed the 70% vaccination target; Seychelles (81.3%), Mauritius (76.6%0 and Rwanda (76.5%). Also, 10 countries…

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Number of COVID-19 orphans nears 150,000 in South Africa

Healthtimes

UNICEF South Africa calls for a whole of society response to protect, nurture and care for the most vulnerable children. PRETORIA, 05 September 2022 – COVID-19 associated deaths have left nearly 150,000 children as orphans, according to latest data modelling from Imperial College London, as part of the Global Reference Group for Children Affected by COVID-19: Joint Estimates and Action. That number rises to 207,400 when including children who have lost their primary or secondary caregiver, such as a grandparent. The tragic figures reiterate the importance of a holistic and…

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