Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Three Times TB Survivor Now Leading Fight against TB from the Front

Michael Gwarisa

Barbara Farashishko (52) from Mabvuku, Harare, will always remember the year 1995 as they year her entire life changed completely following a Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis at Parirenyatwa Hospital. The events that followed her positive TB diagnosis led to a plethora of misfortunes such as losing her Job, loss of family, massive stigma from family and society and above all, two more TB reinfections in the years that followed. By Michael Gwarisa Her TB journey started when she was pregnant in 1995 after she began coughing and experiencing shortness of breath…

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Hunger Forcing TB Patients To Abandon Medications In Rural Communities

Michael Gwarisa

THE growing food insecurity situation could derail the national Tuberculosis (TB) response amidst indications that some TB patients from rural and peri-urban areas are already defaulting on their medications citing some adverse drug reactions after taking the tablets and medications on an empty stomach for a prolonged period. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is currently faced with a food insecurity situation and according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), between 40 percent and 60 percent of the country’s population could be food insecure by September, 2022.This according to…

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Annah Sango To Speak At The 2022 AIDS Conference

Michael Gwarisa

GLOBAL Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) Advocacy Officer, Annah  Sango has been listed amongst the featured speakers to headline the 2022 International AIDS Conference , the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS. By Michael Gwarisa The 2022 AIDS Conference will be held in Montreal Canada and will draw various key speakers from various parts of the world. Speaking to HealthTimes on the development, Anna said the AIDS conference will provide her with a platform to speak on various interventions Zimbabwe is working on to improve access to…

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JICA Offers Technical Support To Zim Hospitals Management Systems

Michael Gwarisa

THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is currently providing technical support to enhance management of healthcare facilities across the country with the aim of catapulting Zimbabwe towards attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC). By Michael Gwarisa The support by JICA and the support by Japan to Zimbabwe’s healthcare industry is part of efforts by the Asian country to enhance cooperation with Zimbabwe and improve access to healthcare services for the majority of Zimbabweans. Speaking at handover ceremony of healthcare equipment in Harare recently, Ambassador of Japan to Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Mr…

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Hospitals and Healthcare Workers Attacked In Ukraine Following Russia’s Invasion

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) surveillance system for Attacks on Healthcare (SSA) has documented 31 attacks on healthcare workers by Russian forces, a development that has compromised access to healthcare services for Ukrainian citizens. By Michael Gwarisa A join statement issues by WHO, UNICEF and the UNFPA has called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and resuscitation of normal healthcare operations. Today, we call for an immediate cessation of all attacks on health care in Ukraine. These horrific attacks are killing and causing serious injuries to patients and health workers, destroying…

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PSMI Partners Dr Muteweye To Conduct Free Fistula Creation For Eight Kidney Disease Patients

Michael Gwarisa

THE Premier Service Medical Investment Pvt (Ltd) (PSMI), has collaborated with Dr Wilfred Muteweye who is a cardiovascular surgeon based in Harare and a member of the Surgical Society of Zimbabwe as well as the Head of the UFIC Health Department to provide eight patients with a service donation of free fistula creation By Michael Gwarisa The move is in line with PSMI Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) interventions and is also a World Kidney Day gift from PSMI to the community.  An Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a permanent access recommended…

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RBF’s Urban Voucher Reduces Maternal and Neonatal Deaths In Harare

Michael Gwarisa

THE Urban Voucher (UV) component of the Results Based Financing (RBF) program, which is being implemented through funding and technical support from the World Bank (WB) has resulted in a decline in maternal and neonatal deaths due to increased uptake of services by pregnant and expecting women. By Michael Gwarisa The RBF project was introduced by the government of Zimbabwe in 2011 and is financed by the Global Financing Facility and the Health Results and Innovation Trust Fund. In the earlier phases, the  Project aimed to accelerate access to quality…

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Zim Inks US$6.6 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Grant

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE’S finance ministry, the World Bank Group, as the Fund Administrator of the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund have singed a US$6.6 Million COVID-19 response grant with the aim of supporting the deployment and management of COVID-19 vaccines. By Staff Reporter According to the World Bank, financing for the project, which comes in the form of a grant, aims to support the deployment and management of COVID-19 vaccines and strengthen related health system capacity in Zimbabwe. the grant will ensure adequate…

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Zim Women Doctors Making Waves

Michael Gwarisa

IN the beginning, the medical profession was sacred ground and somehow, a preserve for men. However over the years, women have made remarkable contributions to the field of medicine. As women around the world were permitted to graduate from medical schools, their accomplishments became more influential and far-reaching. In 1847, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. She was born in England but raised and educated in New York City. Years later, more women in Europe and the Americas enrolled for…

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Women and girls carry the heaviest HIV burden in sub-Saharan Africa

Michael Gwarisa

WOMEN and girls bear the biggest burden of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa compared to their male counterparts. By Staff Reporter According to UNAIDS data, gender inequality and discrimination robs women and girls of their fundamental human rights, including the right to education, health and economic opportunities. The resulting disempowerment also denies women and girls sexual autonomy, decision-making power, dignity and safety. These impacts are most pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa, where adolescent girls and young women (aged 15 to 24 years) accounted for 25% of HIV infections in 2020, despite representing…

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