Author: Michael Gwarisa

Editor for HealthTimes, Zimbabwe's leading online health news publication

Surviving the Festive Season Without January Regrets

Michael Gwarisa

By Abigail Mudokwani The festive season is marked by a collective, almost scripted, narrative of joy, family reunions, and celebration. But for many, this season is not a straightforward story of happiness; it is a complex, double-edged sword! From a psychologist’s point of view, the festive season brings up many different feelings. Yes, there can be joy, but for many people, it’s also a time of real stress, anxiety, and loneliness. The problem often starts when we compare our own holiday experience to the picture of a “perfect” celebration we…

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24-Year-Old Woman Unable to Swallow Needs US$1,000 for Oesophageal Surgery at Karanda Hospital

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa A 24-year-old woman, Gamuchirai B. Chirendo, who can no longer swallow due to a narrowed oesophagus, is seeking US$1,000 for surgery at Karanda Hospital to restore her ability to eat. Her condition worsened in 2023 after giving birth, leading to surgery at Karanda Hospital and the insertion of a feeding tube to sustain her nutrition. She suffers from an oesophageal stricture, a narrowing of the oesophagus that prevents food and liquids from passing normally to the stomach. Speaking to HealthTimes, her mother, Mrs Georgina Mhingo, said her…

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Nairobi County Introduces Menstrual Health Days for Women Employees

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  Nairobi City County has approved a new workplace policy granting women employees two menstrual health days per month, a move aimed at improving employee wellbeing, productivity and gender equality within the public service. The policy, endorsed by the County Executive Committee, formally recognises the impact of menstrual health challenges, particularly dysmenorrhea, on women’s ability to work effectively. Evidence cited by the county indicates that between 65 and 80 percent of women experience menstrual pain, with many reporting symptoms severe enough to disrupt daily activities and affect job…

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National AIDS Council, City Fathers Hold Indaba to Tackle Emerging Vices Driving HIV Risk

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Mazowe The National AIDS Council convened a one day sensitisation indaba with councillors from the City of Harare in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central, as part of efforts to strengthen the HIV and AIDS response amid emerging social and health challenges. The meeting brought together city fathers, government officials and health stakeholders to deliberate on issues increasingly complicating the HIV response, including non communicable diseases, drug and substance abuse, and rising new infections among young people and key populations. Officiating at the indaba, the Minister of State for…

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Hand Foot and Mouth Disease Is Not a Zoonotic Disease

Michael Gwarisa

Health authorities in Harare have confirmed a sharp rise in cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) since October 2025, emphasizing that the illness is not a zoonotic disease, meaning it cannot be transmitted from animals to humans. The disease apparently is different from what we find in cattle, the foot and mouth disease in cattle. So this is a different kind of infection that we see in humans only,” said Dr. Michael Vere, Deputy Director of the City Health Department, Harare, told HealthTimes in an interview. This clarifies…

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Manatsa Gaka Appointed CIMAS Chief Marketing Officer

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  Cimas Health Group has appointed Manatsa Gaka as its substantive Chief Marketing Officer in a move aimed at taking the brand to new heights. Manatsa, a Chartered Marketer (CIM UK, MCIM), brings over 15 years of leadership experience spanning financial services, FMCG, and the development sector. Through its official media platforms, Cimas highlighted that Manatsa is a growth strategist at the intersection of brand, customer experience, and digital innovation, with a career built on transforming marketing into a value-creating, purpose-driven discipline. His professional journey includes impactful roles…

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Zimbabwe’s Rusike Appointed Global UHC Champion

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwean public health expert and Executive Director of the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH), Itai Rusike, has been selected as one of only ten Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Champions globally. Rusike brings to this distinguished cohort decades of experience in public health advocacy, policy development, and the design of people-centred health systems. His work spans grassroots community engagement, national health strategy formulation, and regional collaboration, reflecting a deep commitment to strengthening health systems across Africa. Reacting to his induction, Rusike said: “For more than twenty years,…

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Crucial Week: Committee to Rule on Whether Mpox Remains a Public Health Emergency

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Sixteen months after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), the Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) is set to meet this week to decide whether the outbreak should be lifted as a PHECS or maintained. This follows months of surveillance and monitoring, with data suggesting the outbreak is steadily declining as countries intensify case detection, treatment services and community outreach in affected hotspots. According to Africa CDC, confirmed cases fell from a peak six-week average…

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Chinese Construction Firms in Zimbabwe Accused of Endangering Workers’ Health and Safety

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Workers’ trade union organisations in Zimbabwe have accused Chinese construction companies operating in the country of exposing employees to hazardous working conditions and violating basic occupational health and safety requirements. The concerns were raised during the signing of the Decent Work Pledge for Construction Industry Employees held in Harare. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Labour and Public Service with support from the International Labour Organisation. Both organised labour and employer representatives took part in endorsing the pledge. Representing labour unions, the Zimbabwe Congress of…

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AI-Generated Deepfakes and Ghost Accounts Fuel Tech Based Gender Based Violence in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is recording a sharp rise in technology driven gender based violence as new digital tools, including artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes and anonymous social media accounts, make it increasingly difficult to trace perpetrators. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Cybersecurity and Forensics Laboratory has warned that technology-facilitated GBV is now one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse targeting women and girls across the country. Global evidence shows that two in three women have experienced technology-facilitated violence and 85 percent of women online have witnessed another woman being abused. In…

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