Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

#BREAKING: Schools Open On 7 February As Gvt Relaxes Lockdown Measures

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), has announced that the general school calendar will resume on February 7, 2022 as the country eases the lockdown measures that were meant to curtail the spread of the Omicron variant. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, acting health and child care minister, Professor Amon Murwirwa said the country over the past two weeks recorded a decline in new COVID-19 cases, hence the move to allow schools and other economic sectors to reopen. The National COVID-19 epidemic curve is indicating that the…

Read More

NAC In Drive To Scale Up HIV Treatment And Testing Coverage In Males

Michael Gwarisa

THE National AIDS Council in Zimbabwe (NAC), has devised a number of strategies to bring men and boys on board, with the aim of increasing HIV treatment and testing coverage in males. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes in the midst of indications that globally, men continue to lag behind across the HIV testing and treatment continuum. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) special analysis of 2021, globally, the testing and treatment targets for 2020 were almost reached among adult women (15 years and…

Read More

Building Bridges Project Reignites Feminism Energy In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE Building Bridges  for the Feminist Movement in Zimbabwe, has awakened the urge to champion women and girls rights in more than 70,000 young and budding feminists in at least four provinces in Zimbabwe where the project is being implemented. By Michael Gwarisa   The program came at the back of indications that the women’s movement was experiencing a decline in activism, as experienced women human rights defenders (WHRD) move on and young women have not necessarily had the opportunity to gain the skills, experience, finance and capacity to push…

Read More

Harare Residents Concerned Over Rise In Child Sex Work and Drug Abuse

Michael Gwarisa

MOST Harare suburbs are experiencing a surge in cases of drug and substance and child sex work which many residents believe is being driven by the prolonged time the kids have spent outside learning institutions due to lockdown restrictions. By Michael Gwarisa Following the prolonged closure of schools due to recurring lockdown restrictions since 2020, most children have found solace in harmful practices such as sexual experimentation and drug and substance abuse. The massive job losses due to retrenchments and closure of some businesses during the lockdown have also impacted…

Read More

COVAX delivers its 1 billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose

Michael Gwarisa

On 15 January 2022, a shipment of 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda included the billionth dose supplied via COVAX. Together with our partners, COVAX is leading the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, with deliveries to 144 countries to date. But the work that has gone into this milestone is only a reminder of the work that remains. As of 13 January 2022, out of 194 Member States, 36 WHO Member States have vaccinated less than 10% of their population, and 88 less than 40%. COVAX’s ambition…

Read More

UNHCR’s Protection Chief Concludes Three-Day Visit To Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

Supporting the Government’s efforts to protect and assist refugees and learn about the situation of refugees in the country dominated the visit of UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Gillian Triggs, to Zimbabwe from 19 to 21 January. HealthTimes Reporter Triggs met with partners, donors, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Frederick Makamure Shava, and the Minister of Public Services, Labour & Social Welfare, Paul Mavima. We had very open and constructive discussions with the Government on all issues relating to the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers in…

Read More

Alternative Smoking Products Could Reduce Cancer Morbidity And Mortality

Michael Gwarisa

EVEN though quitting tobacco is by far the most effective means of tobacco harm reduction, it is difficult to achieve due to a myriad of factors chief among them being the addictive nature of Nicotine, hence the need to introduce innovative and less harmful alternative ways of reducing smoking related cancer deaths and illnesses, a top harm reduction expert has said. By Michael Gwarisa According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year and more than 7 million of those deaths are the…

Read More

Three Former Heads of State Appointed Patrons For The Upcoming APAC Congress

Michael Gwarisa

THE Government of Rwanda through its Ministry of Environment has unveiled three former African Heads of State as patrons for the upcoming inaugural IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC). HealthTimes Reporter The three former heads of state include H.E Hailemariam Desalegn – former Prime Minister for Ethiopia; H.E Issoufou Mahamadou – former President Niger and H.E Festus Mogae – former President for Botswana. The APAC Congress which is set to be the first ever continent-wide gathering of African leaders, citizens, and interest groups aims to discuss the role of protected…

Read More

#BREAKING: Worrisome New Leprosy Cases Recorded In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE recorded a worrisome sharp increase in new leprosy cases in 2020 with majority of cases having been recorded in Binga, Matabelenad North (Mat North), prompting government to activate and intensify Leprosy diagnosis and detection in other parts of the country that used to be Leprosy Hotspots. By Michael Gwarisa Traditional leprosy hotspots in Zimbabwe include Mat South (Gwanda and Bulimia), Mat North (Hwange and Binga), Mashonaland West (Makonde and Rafingora and farming areas around Rafingora), Zvimba (Hurungwe and Kariba). Masvingo (Chiredzi South in the Chikombedzi), Manicaland (Buhera and Chipinge),…

Read More

Unsafe abortions lead to immediate and long term complications

Michael Gwarisa

COMPLICATIONS arising from post unsafe abortion infections could have long term implications on the fertility of women due to the unsterile nature of the environments and objects used during unsafe abortions procedures, a local Obstetrician and Gynecologist has warned.  . By Michael Gwarisa    Speaking to HealthTimes, Dr Grant Murewanhema an Obstetrician and Gynecologist said unsafe abortions were happening and unfortunately they were they were among the leading cause of maternal mortality in Zimbabwe. When you look at it just in the immediate short term after this act has been…

Read More