Author: Healthtimes

Government commends Universities, local industry for PPE production

Healthtimes

VICE  President and Minister of Health and Child Care(MoHCC), Dr Constantino Chiwenga has applauded local universities and local industries for producing high quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), and urged them to go a step further in producing local medicines so as to reduce medical importations. By Patricia Mashiri Speaking during State Universities and local industries PPEs exhibition coordinated by the National Pharmaceuticals held under the theme “Enhancing The Availability Of Locally Made PPEs Through Collaboration With State Universities and local manufacturers,” Vice President Chiwenga said the exhibition was  clear testimony…

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The “Ndiro ya Baba” Phenomenon:…A closer look at the intra household food distribution in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

TO those who have had a stint with rural life you might have across these phrases, “Musana Wehuku Ndewababa,” loosely translated as “only the father or man of the house is the one who eats the entire Chicken’s back.” In Masvingo it’s called Chiteretere and in some households, women have even been sent packing for wrongly allocating chicken portions. By Dr Tonde Matsungo (PhD, MPhil, BSc) and Dexter Chagwena To consume the entire Chicken’s back, a humongous mountain of Sadza has to complement the meal. The practice whereby the father…

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Stanbic Donates ZW$3.5 Million Worth Products To Albino Charity

Healthtimes

Stanbic Bank has donated sun protection products worth ZWL 3.5 million to the Albino Charity Organization of Zimbabwe (ALCOZ). By Patricia Mashiri The donated products include 1000 units of sunscreen lotions,1 000 units of antibacterial soap,1 000 units of antiseptic liquid, 1 000 units of lip balm, 1000 units of antiseptic ointment and 1 000 sunhats. Speaking during the handover ceremony Lucy Dlodlo, Manager for Sponsorship, Events and CSI Stanbic Bank said the institution was committed to play its part in protecting people with albinism from the sun cognizant of…

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Harare Lawyer Challenges Mandatory Vaccination

Healthtimes

OBERT Kondongwe, a Harare based lawyer has opposed government’s recent decision of making vaccination mandatory for church and religious gatherings as well as the move by other companies  and governments of sending unvaccinated staff on leave. By Patricia Mashiri In his court challenge, Kondongwe is saying there is no law currently in Zimbabwe which makes vaccination mandatory and as such, churches should not be penalized for attending churche gatherings unvaccinated. He also argued that Government is infringing on people’s rights and freedoms contained in section 51,52,56,58,60 and 65. It is…

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Zim Hosts COVID-19 PPE Exhibition

Healthtimes

LOCAL Universities and manufacturers are set to exhibit locally produced Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) coordinated by the National Pharmaceutical Company (NTAPHARM) as a way of recognising their great contribution in mitigating COVID-19 pandemic. By Patricia Mashiri The exhibition is set to take place at the Harare International Conference Centre  (HICC) on August 20, 2021 to showcase locally available PPEs, forge linkages within the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, expand markets, promote research and forge synergies between State Universities and local industry. Speaking during a press conference, Gibson Dumba, Acting Managing Director NATPHARM…

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UK regulator approves Moderna Covid Vaccine For 12-17 Year Olds

Healthtimes

Britain’s health regulator has approved Moderna’s Covid vaccine for use in children and young people aged 12 to 17 years. It is the second Covid-19 jab authorised for those aged between 12 and 17, after the Pfizer vaccine. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that it is up to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to advise the government on whether children in this age group should be given the Moderna jab. The MHRA said that the jab – also known as the Spikevax vaccine –…

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COVID-19 Increases Post-partum Depression Cases In Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

WOMEN have been urged to seek mental health assistance soon after birth to avoid sliding into Post-partum depression especially under the prevailing  COVID-19 pandemic. By Patricia Mashiri Post-partum depression is a form of depression that occurs after childbirth. Those who develop it are at a greater risk of developing major depression later in life. In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Kudakwashe Muchena, a the leading Psychologist in Zimbabwe said there was need to take extra care of pregnant and post-partum women as the process of birth comes with a lot…

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Report Dirty Officers Taking Bribes To Allow Bars To Operate Beyond Curfew-Nyathi

Healthtimes

OFFICERS from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are reportedly taking brides from liquor and merchants and bar owners to allow them to operate way into the night despite government having issued a six to six Curfew as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. By Patricia Mashiri A snap survey by HealthTimes recently shows that bars as well as shebeen operators in both rural and some urban settings were operating beyond the stipulated time. In Harare, places like Dzivarasekwa, Kuwadzana 3, Budiriro, Glenview had thriving shebeens operating throughout…

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Making dreams a reality: The DREAMS/Pathways Project

Healthtimes

By Tariro Mhute and Vincent Mpamhadzi Looking back Virgina Tshuma (34) from Mambo – Gweru, never imaged that one day she would own a thriving poultry business. With the prevailing economic crisis, making ends meet was only a dream as she and her husband only managed to provide one meal per day for their three children, let alone pay their school fees. Her husband is an artisanal miner and without a steady income – life wasn’t always rosy. This posed great tension in their home, which sometimes led to verbal…

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Zim Needs Homegrown TB Research-MoHCC

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE should stop relying on foreign research and methods around Tuberculosis if it is develop capacity to deal with emerging new threats. By Patricia Mashiri Speaking during a virtual TB opening day, Dr Charles Sandy, the National TB Programme Manager in the Ministry of Health and Child said they were gaps in research and technologies that needed only to be addressed using homegrown solutions. It is very important for us to have a very strong background in our policy making research which s informed by local data, local analysis as…

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