Author: Kuda Pembere

Zim readies incorporation of Cabotegravir into local PrEP guidelines

Kuda Pembere

FOLLOWING the approval for use of Cabotegravir (CAB-LA) in Zimbabwe by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) last year, the country is expected to have incorporated the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of this long-acting HIV preventive method into its own HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in June. By Kudakwashe Pembere That the WHO guidelines would be incorporated into Zimbabwe’s was revealed by renowned HIV Prevention expert Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi last week in a media science café organized by the Health Communicators Forum (HCF). Zimbabwe is the first African country to…

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Egyptian Drug Authority pays courtesy call to VP Chiwenga

Kuda Pembere

A delegation of members from the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) paid a courtesy call to the Vice President and Health and Child Care Minister DrConstantine Chiwenga ahead of a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe. By Kudakwashe Pembere The EDA is an initiative for” an organization within the Ministry of Health that is responsible for safeguarding people health by regulating safety and quality of medicines (human and veterinary), biologicals, medical devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements and pesticides. Leading the EDA delegation is Professor…

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An uptown girl’s battle with drug and substance use

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere DRUG and substance abuse in Zimbabwe is usually synonymous with the ghetto streets. A dirty, shabby, red eyed male figure is probably the first picture one envisions when they think of drug users and abusers. Well, here is a Newsflash, the drug crisis is equally endemic and deep rooted in uptown residential areas such as Borrowadale Brooke, Chisipite, Umwinsdale and others just as is the case with Ghettos like Mabvuku, Mbare, Fio, Kuwadzana, Mufakose and others. It also knows no gender as more and more girls are…

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West End Hospital reopens next week

Kuda Pembere

WEST END Hospital, a flagship unit of Premier Service Medical Investments (PSMI) will open its doors to the public on May 2 after seven months of closure. By Kuda Pembere This comes as a relief to PSMAS membership which often times would be returned home without getting treatment due to the workers’ strike. The closure was as a result of the company’s employees who complained of salary non-payment with the management then blaming the closure on “cash flow ceilings affecting the major client, Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS).” PSMI…

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19 Percent Of Zimbabweans Unemployed

Kuda Pembere

Zimbabwe’s official national unemployment rate during the first quarter of 2023 stood at 19 percent while the expanded unemployment rate for the nation  was 46.7 percent. By Staff Reporter The expanded unemployment rate is defined as a person between the ages of 15 and 64 who is without a job, willing and able to work but is not actively searching for a job. Presenting the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (Zimstat) 2023 First Quarter Quarterly Labour Force Survey Results, Director General Mr Taguma Mahonde said there was an increase in the number…

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Parents Of Children Battling Drug & Substance Abuse Urged To Be Patient

Kuda Pembere

INASMUCH as parents or guardians are at the receiving end of shame, guilt, and embarrassment when their children are taking harmful drugs and substances, it is important for them to be patient and supportive to fight drugs and substance abuse. By Kuda Pembere This was said during a Parents taking charge against drugs and alcohol abuse workshop on Saturday. In separate interviews, it emerged that parents or guardians needed to be less judgmental of their children. Ms Jacqueline Rugayo from Seed Foundation who organized the event said the battle against…

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Zim HPV vaccination coverage drops: UNICEF

Kuda Pembere

Zimbabwe shed 24 percent of its Human Papillomavirus (HPV) coverage which was 91 percent in 2019 to 67 percent in 2021. By Kudakwashe Pembere The drop was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted immunization campaigns not only in Zimbabwe but the rest of the world. In Zimbabwe, around 4 million women aged 15 years and older are at risk of developing cervical cancer. In a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) State of the World’s Children 2023 regional brief for Eastern and Southern Africa, it was noted that the pandemic…

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Zimbabwe Suspends Use Of Pholcodine Cough Medicines Use

Kuda Pembere

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has halted the use of medicines containing the pholcodine substance after learning it causes life threatening adverse reactions. By Kuda Pembere In a statement, MCAZ Director General Mr Richard Rukwata said they found that use of pholcodine a year before general anasthesia had high risk of getting anaphylactic reactions. Available data indicated that the use of pholcodine in the twelve (12) months before general anesthesia with neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) such as suxamethonium, and atracurium is a risk factor for developing an anaphylactic…

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Women With Disabilities Become Targets Of Rape In Zimbabwe

Kuda Pembere

WOMEN and girls with disabilities are increasingly becoming easy targets for Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) as they struggle to report the abuse due to lack of disability friendly referral pathways for sexual abuse. By Kudakwashe Pembere This was said by Deaf Women Included board vice-chairperson, Ms Cleopatra Nyaku on Thursday on the sidelines of a Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Disability Inclusivity workshop. As DWI our position on Gender based violence is that our constituency which is mainly women and girls with disabilities particularly those with hearing impairments, are…

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UZ hailed for establishing International Centre for Surgical Simulation

Kuda Pembere

THE University of Zimbabwe has been commended for setting up the International Centre for Surgical Simulation (UZICSS) which shall become a game-changer with its laparoscopic or key-hole surgery curricula for local and regional students. By Kudakwashe Pembere Specialist surgeons from Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United States, Namibia, and Uganda are in the country for a symposium and training of keen students who want to specialize and enhance their skills of laparoscopic surgery. Speaking to HealthTimes on the sidelines of a surgical symposium which ended Saturday, UZ Professorial…

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