Author: Kuda Pembere

High Prevalence Of Syphilis in Divorced Zimbabweans-New Study

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Zimbabwean individuals divorced, separated or widowed had high chances of contracting  active syphilis unlike the married or cohabiting couples, a study found. In a study published in The Lancet journal, it emerged the trend was not only common among Zimbabweans but Zambians and Ugandans as well. The study sought to ascertain the prevalence of syphilis in HIV positive and HIV negative persons in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe from 2015 to 2018. Divorced, separated, or widowed individuals had significantly higher odds of active syphilis in Uganda,…

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WHO declares mpox a global health emergency

Kuda Pembere

  The World Health Organization on Wednesday finally declared the spread of mpox in some African countries a public health emergency of international concern. The declaration comes hot on the heels after the Africa CDC declared the disease a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). The decision from WHO came following the advice the UN health arm’s Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus got from a panel of experts on the disease. “Today, the Emergency Committee on #mpox met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a…

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Fake Nursing Certificates Flood Zim Market

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere The Nurses Council of Zimbabwe (NCZ) has hinted at introducing additional security features to the nursing practicing certificate to curb the proliferation of counterfeit certificates on the market. This development follows reports that some individuals were forging qualifications and some employers were only finding out their employees hold fake certificates after they would have failed to perform at work. The NCZ is the examiner starting from diploma courses in government nursing schools across the country. NCZ approves the curricula and training regulations for nurses/midwives training schools. The…

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Twenty graduate in Frontline Field Epidemiology

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Twenty frontline healthworkers from Zimbabwe’s rural districts graduated from a three-month Field Epidemiology Training Program. The training was informed by the lack of adequate capacity in disease surveillance in the country. The twenty which graduated on Wednesday in Harare, were drawn from Gutu, Hurungwe, Sanyati and Mwenezi districts. They included Environmental Health Officers, Health Information Officers, Health Promotion officers, Nurses and District Medical Officers. The training was conducted by the Zimbabwe Field Epidemiology Training Program (Zim FETP) with support from America’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in…

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Health Professions Authority Zimbabwe engages journalists

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Health Professions Authority, a body comprising of eight councils regulating various professions in the health sector held a media familiarization talk on Tuesday briefing the press on the mandates and operations of these councils. This comes following the realization that the public were largely unaware of their rights and where to report illicit practices by professionals. The HPA is an umbrella body for Natural Therapists Council of Zimbabwe, Allied Health Practitioners Cuncil of Zimbabwe (AHPCZ), Pharmacists Council of Zimbabwe (PCZ), Nurses Council of Zimbabwe(NCZ), Medical Rehabilitation Practitioners…

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Zimbabwe’s Medical Helicopters To Be Operational By Year End

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The operationalization of air medical rescue services within Zimbabwe’s public health system is expected to be ‘up and flying’ by end of year starting with six helicopters across four provinces. Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora told journalists on the sidelines of a handover ceremony where Russia donated cholera commodities at the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) that they trained some pilots for medical air evacuation. Already we have started operationalizing the air ambulance. We are going to start with six helicopters, which are already converted…

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UNDP Hands Over 136 Vehicles To Zim’s Health Ministry

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), has handed over a total 136 vehicles to be used by Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in the HIV response and disease outbreak response. The vehicles were purchased using savings from the efficiency gains fund in bis to support the gains made in the HIV field as well as strengthening Zimbabwe’s health system. From the 136 vehicles, National Aids Council (NAC) received 20 vehicles. Speaking at the handover ceremony in Harare on Friday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr…

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Russia donates cholera commodities to Zim

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Insofar as Zimbabwe has declared itself cholera free after 30 days without recording a case, the Russian Federation handed over to the Health and Child Care Ministry cholera medication and equipment worth over US$43 000 to enhance the country’s preparedness should another cholera outbreak emerge. Speaking at a handover ceremony at the National Pharmaceutical Company warehouse in Harare on Thursday, the Health Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the commodities to fight cholera remain critical. “The donation with a value of $43 853,40 consisting of consisting of intravenous…

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Higherlife Foundation boosts Zim maternal and neonatal health

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Envisioning improved health outcomes, philanthropic arm Higherlife Foundation (HLF) has donated maternal and neonatal health equipment worth US$240 000 to three central hospitals in Zimbabwe. Receiving the equipment were Sally Mugabe Hospital, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Mpilo Central Hospital. Higherlife Foundation Country Director Mr Philani Nyatsanza said the organisation remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the Government of Zimbabwe to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes in the country. “Since 2020, Higherlife Foundation has grown our focus and efforts in maternal health by training doctors…

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Results Based Financing USD Component Returns Under Health Resilience Fund

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The Health Resilience Fund (HRF) is working on reviving the the United States Dollar (USD) component for the Results Based Financing (RBF) which had been halted in 2022 with US$5million already earmarked for disbursement across health facilities in Zimbabwe. This was said by UNICEF Health Systems Strengthening Health Manager, Mr Norest Hama recently at an HRF media briefing recently. The RBF is a financial facility allocated for covering other operational expenses. In the first quarter of 2022, there was an arrangement that saw government take up the…

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