Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Zim COVID-19 Infections Shoot Through The Roof…President Announces New Measures

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE President, Emerson Mnangagwa has introduced new measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the midst of a raging new COVID-19 wave which has seen new cases increasing fourfold over the past week. By Michael Gwarisa According to the ministry of health and child care (MoHCC), the number of new cases increased during the week under review, with 28 904 cases recorded compared to 5 055 cases the previous week. Announcing the new measures, President Mnangagwa confirmed that majority of the new cases were linked to the new Omicron variant.…

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Zimbabwe Told To Up Genomic Sequencing Game… As Omicron Outpaces Delta’s Infection Rate

Michael Gwarisa

FOLLOWING the detection of the Omicron or B.1.1.529 variant by South African scientists three weeks ago, it has emerged that the new strain could be infecting more people within a short space of time compared to the Delta strain which at some point was touted as the fastest growing variant. By Michael Gwarisa The Omicron variant, a highly mutated strain whose impact is feared could evade vaccine induced immunity and probably cause more severe symptoms, has to date been reported in 63 countries across the globe and in all continents…

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Smoking Shisha A Potential TB Super spreader-Expert

Michael Gwarisa

HOOKER Water Pipes also known as Shisha or Hubbly Bubbly could be possible transmitters of the bacteria that causes Tuberculosis (TB) from one person a group of multiple smokers at any given time, a local TB expert has warned. By Michael Gwarisa The warning comes in the wake of an increase in the uptake of the Shisha smoking in Zimbabwe around some of the popular joints where multiple smokers take turns to puff of on the pipes without following any hygiene etiquette. According to data, the number of puffs inhaled…

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Stop TB Partnership Zimbabwe Launches National Social Media Campaign

Michael Gwarisa

THE Stop TB Partnership Zimbabwe, a country level initiative meant to scale up Tuberculosis (TB) case finding and treatment in various communities which include high TB burden settings, has launched a national social media campaign that will see TB champions, media and other key stakeholders raising awareness around the TB subject using various digital media platforms and media products. By Michael Gwarisa in Kadoma The campaign will result in the production of video TB Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material for distribution through celebrity platforms as well as other social…

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WHO and Global Fund warn inequalities block progress towards ending AIDS, TB and malaria

Michael Gwarisa

Inequities have been widely acknowledged as barriers to achieving global and national goals and targets in HIV, TB and malaria programs. However, the magnitude and extent of underlying health inequalities have remained poorly documented and understood. By Sonali Reddy Until those inequalities are better identified, and their consequences better understood, it will be hard for programmes to meet people’s real health needs. Now, for the first time, a new report from the World Health Organization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, systematically assesses the global State…

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Zimbabwe Moves To Make Vaccination Mandatory For Intercity Travellers

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE’S government is working on introducing measures that will make mandatory for all intra and intercity travellers to have valid vaccination proof in order to board buses. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing Journalists during a post cabinet Media Briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said they are working on deploying healthcare workers to administer vaccine dosses at Bus termini around the country in a move to increase the numbers of vaccinated people as well push the country towards attaining herd immunity in the midst of increased new…

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Major Boost For ZIMPARKS Conservation Work

Michael Gwarisa

IN a bid to enhance antipoaching work in the Zambezi Valley, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), has handed over a fully refurbished vehicle workshop, a brand-new Toyota Hilux Twin Cab GD6, one Sport Fisher, one Pelican boat and newly established infrastructure at the Zambezi River Specialized Anti-Poaching Unit (ZARSAU) D Camp, to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks). By Michael Gwarisa in Chirundu The donated vehicle will be used by the Zimparks Investigations Unit for activities within the Zambezi Valley landscape while the refurbished Marongora Vehicle workshop will…

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New Zim Cyber Security Act Criminalizes Sharing Someones Nudes On Social Media

Michael Gwarisa

IN what is likely to be game changing, Zimbabwe’s new Cyber Security law known as the Data Protection Act criminalises the sharing of another person’s private sex life on social media or digital media platforms. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has over the years experienced a surge in revenge porn cases whereby aggrieved lovers would after a fallout share indecent pictures and videos of their ex-lovers as a way of embarrassing them. According to the Data Protection Act,…”Any person who unlawfully and intentionally by means of a computer or information system…

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Zim Gvt Makes Adjustments Over Who Can Self Quarantine At Home Or Institution

Michael Gwarisa

THERE was widespread panic and shock when President Emerson Mnangagwa and his deputy who is also the health and child care minister Dr Constantino Chiwenga announced that returning residents would be subjected to a mandatory 14 days quarantine at their own costs and mandatory PCR testing even after producing a negative PCR COVID. By Michael Gwarisa Government has since issued a Statutory Instrument (S.I) to that effect and the promulgations by the head of state and health minister are now law. The S.I is known as the S.I 267 of…

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When Elephants Buy Sanitary Pads

Michael Gwarisa

IF looked after properly, wildlife can turn the fortunes of poor communities living adjacent to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries into stories of success and development. However, in most cases, communities around game reserves experience extreme poverty due to a myriad of factors chief among them being the lack of employment opportunities, lack of exposure among other factors. Some end up resorting poaching the wildlife from the parks just to make ends meet. By Michael Gwarisa Not only do communities living around game reserves, wildlife conservancies and national parks fail…

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