Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Zim Drug Masterplan architects reject Prof Mavima to lead implementation

Michael Gwarisa

THE Independent Technical Working Group on Drugs involved in drafting the Zimbabwe National Drug Masterplan (ZNDMP) want a National Coordinator instead of a Cabinet Minister to lead the implementation of the country’s drug masterplan. By Kuda Pembere In September last year, Zimbabwe adopted the ZNDMP (2021-2023), whose aim is to provide a clear roadmap to addressing the cross-cutting drug use problem in the country. The ZNDMP, which was developed through an inter-ministerial collaboration taking into account current measures in place to address the drug use problem, also highlights a results-based…

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Gvt Moves In To Address PSMAS Medical Aid Shortfalls

Michael Gwarisa
Zimbabwe Doctors Name PSMAS Worst Medical Aid Service Provider

THE Zimbabwean government says is engaged in talks with the Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) with the paying capacitating ensuring civil servants who are PSMAS members accessing health services at health institutions of their choice without the need to pay top up fees to service providers. By Michael Gwarisa PSMAS members have been paying a monthly amount subscription rate of US$10.00 which according local health economists in no longer feasible. All along, government has been paying 80% (US$8.00) of the tariff for civil servants, while the civil servant has…

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Zimbabwe’s Aged Persons on ARVs at Greater Risk of NCDs

Michael Gwarisa

HIV and AIDS is slowly becoming an ageing issue in Zimbabwe with indications that majority of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) are those above the age of 50 and are at greater risk of developing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). By Michael Gwarisa Even though the country has been recording a number of new infections amongst young girls and women, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has raised concern over the concentration of PLHIV and ART clients in the 50 and above age range and…

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Zimbabwe Launches Informal Sector HIV/AIDS Strategy

Michael Gwarisa

AS Zimbabwe inches closer towards controlling the AIDS epidemic, the National AIDS Council (NAC) in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), have launched the Zimbabwe Informal Economy HIV and AIDS Strategy (2022-2025). By Michael Gwarisa The strategy seeks amongst other things to empower and provide comprehensive HIV services to all levels of workers and other persons in the informal sector with the aim of creating an environment that will lead to a reduction in new HIV infections in working environments. Standing in for Minister Sithembiso Nyoni, Mr Tabani Shoko…

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Trust Issues Blamed For Low Vaccine Uptake in Zim-Study

Michael Gwarisa

SKEPTICISM around the Chinese manufactured vaccines, the Sinopharm and Sinovac has to a greater extent hampered the uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa This is according to data that was gathered during a COVID-19 Rapid Assessment that was conducted by Pangea Zimbabwe AIDS Trust between September and October 2021. Zimbabwe is currently ranked among the highest in Africa in terms of vaccinating its citizens. However, a number of factors have hindered the country’s progress towards attaining herd immunity where an ambitious target of vaccinating 10 million citizens…

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357 Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators Convicted

Michael Gwarisa

IN a move that is set to boost confidence in Zimbabwe’s criminal justice system, at least 55 percent of Sexual offenders and perpetrators of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Manicaland province and some parts of Masvingo have been convicted since the year 2019 to date. By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare The cases were facilitated and processed through the assistance of the Family AIDS Caring Trust Zimbabwe (FACT) legal division in the districts FACT is implementing the Children Tariro and DREAMS projects namely Makoni, Mutare, Chipinge, Buhera and Gutu. Speaking during…

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Male Involvement Component Slows Down PrEP Uptake In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

POOR health seeking behavior by males, coupled with the patriarchal nature of society has slowed down the uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa PrEP is the use of Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs by HIV-uninfected persons to prevent the acquisition of HIV before exposure to HIV. Most oral PrEP pills contain a combination of two ARVs- tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricatabine. According to data that was shared by the Zimbabwe Association of Church related Hospitals (ZACH) during a virtual media  briefing on PrEP, the uptake of PrEP…

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WHO Suspends Supply Of Indian Vaccine, Covaxin

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO), has with immediate effect, suspended the supply of the Indian manufactured COVAXIN shots following the outcome of an inspection in March 2022, where deficiencies and manufacturing related concerns were identified. By Michael Gwarisa The decision by WHO has also prompted Bharat Biotech, the manufacturer to immediately suspend production of Covaxin, a move that is set to interrupt the vaccination programs for countries relying on Covaxin to carry out immunisations. Countries that had approved the use of COVAXIN include Zimbabwe, Australia, Mauritius, Oman, Philippines, Nepal, Mexico,…

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Baby Amputated In Negligence Storm

Michael Gwarisa

AUTHORITIES at the state-run Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals have landed themselves in trouble after a newly born baby had her leg amputated less than one month after being born. Staff Reporter Tiny Masvaure, the mother of the baby ended up staying at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for more than three months in an isolated ward after her baby now aged one year and four months-old, had her leg amputated on 19 January 2021 because the leg had been infected. According to Masvaure, when she gave birth to her baby on…

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After Falling Off The Radar, Orphaned HIV Positive Boy Develops High Viral Load

Michael Gwarisa

A few minutes after bringing her son into this world, Simba Ncube’s* mother lost her life to AIDS related complications in 2010. Luckily before she died, Simba’s mother had registered her cousin sister, Ms Pride Ncube* as the next of kin and guardian to her child. On the fateful day, the hospital called Ms Ncube informing her that her sister had died and had indicated that she wanted her to raise her child. By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare However, a family feud ensued shortly afterwards with Simba’s maternal grandparents demanding…

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