Kuda Pembere |

UHC A Pipe-dream Without Increasing Per-Capita Spending On Healthcare

April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 Kuda Pembere

ZIMBABWE’S per capita health spending is expected to increase by 100 percent from US$20 in 2022 to US$40 this year which however remains far less than what other countries are spending on their people, a leading health economist has said. By Kuda Pembere In a Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) 2023 budget analysis for the health sector, Dr Prosper Chitambara said the country is still spending less of its gross domestic product on health in comparison to other countries. Zimbabwe’s per capita spending on health is still about twice…

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Criminal Offenses Spike in Zimbabwe

April 5, 2023April 12, 2023 Kuda Pembere

About 6 700 cases were recorded by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in connection alcohol, drug and substance abuse last year. By Kudakwashe Pembere The reports were recorded in the last quarter of 2022 were compiled by the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (Zimstat) in partnership with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). The information contained here is based on data collected from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Crime Report and Disposal System,” said Zimstat director general Mr Taguma Mahonde presenting the 2022 fourth quarter crime statistics report. Zimstat said 5 240 persons…

Measles kills 750 children under five: Amnesty International

April 5, 2023April 5, 2023 Kuda Pembere

MEASLES killed over 750 children under the age of five in Zimbabwe last year, an Amnesty International (AI) report states. By Kuda Pembere With more than half of the deaths being community deaths mainly from from Manicaland province, the Measles virus spread to other parts of the country killing manly unvaccinated children. The first case was reported in Mutasa District amongst the Apostolic sects. In April, the Ministry of Health and Child Care declared a measles outbreak in Mutasa District in Manicaland province. The virus spread to other areas and…

Zim activates Marburg Virus Disease preparedness and response teams

April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 Kuda Pembere

As the Marburg Virus Disease spreads across Africa, the Zimbabwean government is strengthening its surveillence systems to track possible movement of the disease at its points of entry. By Staff Reporter In a statement, Health and Child Care Ministry permanent secretary Dr Jasper Chimedza said they have activated preparedness and response teams to be on the watch. “In view of this regional outbreak, the MoHCC has taken steps to strengthen surveillance particularly at the points of entry and activated preparedness and response teams. “If anyone presents with haemorrhagic symptoms and…

COVID-19 Vaccination Fatigue Hits Zimbabwean Communities

March 31, 2023March 31, 2023 Kuda Pembere

VACCINE Fatigue in Zimbabwe has been attributed to the myths and misconceptions peddled in communities which has resulted in many fearing the vaccine more than the COVID-19 disease. By Kuda Pembere While Zimbabwe is still witnessing some COVID-19 infections, the uptake for vaccines has been less than desirable. Speaking to Journalsts during Science Café organized by the Health Communicators Forum in imbabwe (HCF), Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive chairperson, Ms Maria Chiwera told journalists that lack of information on the disease coupled vaccine hesitancy had slowed down uptake…

Licensed Zim Medicinal Cannabis Producers Getting Big Headed

March 31, 2023 Kuda Pembere

SOME players who received licenses to produce Medicinal Cannabis four years ago are reportedly skirting some of the legal provisions in their operations such as informing the health ministry permanent secretary before commencing production of the cannabis. By Kuda Pembere With the industry fairly in its infancy stage, MCAZ has since licensed 59 players for the production of medicinal cannabis. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an MCAZ-medicinal cannabis producers interface workshop, the regulator’s Director General Mr Richard Rukwata said during inspections they noted the players have been…

Zimbabwe ICASA Preparations Reach Crescendo

March 30, 2023 Kuda Pembere

With about nine months to go to this year’s edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), the event’s director Dr Luc Bodea says he is impressed by the progress Zimbabwe has made already with regards to preparations. By Kuda Pembere Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the on-going International Steering Committee meeting, ICASA director Luc Armand Bodea said the country is progressing well on course with its preparations. We can tell you that at this stage we are at 50 to 55 percent ready…

Giliead Under Fire For Withholding PrEP Patents

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023 Kuda Pembere

United States (US) headquartered pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, is being accused of engaging in inhuman practices of holding on to patents for certain lifesaving drugs, a situation that has condemned millions to new HIV infections and premature deaths. By Kudakwashe Pembere Some of the practices include ever-greening of medicine patents like Truvada which has been in use as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in many countries like Zimbabwe as well as opening the license for the generic production of the hepatitis C drug Harvoni to all low- and middle-income countries. AIDS…

100 graduate in Quality Rights for Mental Health training

March 29, 2023March 30, 2023 Kuda Pembere

A HUNDRED persons graduated after completing a Quality Rights training on mental health recovery and community inclusion which started in January this year. By Kudakwashe Pembere The training equips the general citizenry as well as professionals in the handling of persons with lived mental health experiences. It comes at a time when stigma stereotyping of people with psychosocial disabilties is still rife in the community and even some public health facilities. World Health Organization (WHO) Zimbabwe focal person for mental health Dr Debra Machando said the course is a recovered…