Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

#BREAKING: City Of Harare Closes 9 Clinics As Nurses Desert For Greener Pastures

Michael Gwarisa

THE past few months have seen hundreds of healthcare workers especially nurses resigning en masse from Harare City Council run clinics, leading to the closure of at least nine clinics around the city. By Michael Gwarisa The exodus of nurses has to a larger extent been driven by the deteriorating working conditions and poor remuneration, a situation which has pushed nurses to join local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) while some have moved abroad where demand for healthcare workers is also on the rise. In July, the City of Harare reported that…

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United States Government’s Interventions See Rujeko Polyclinic Surpassing HIV Targets

Michael Gwarisa

RUJEKO Polyclinic, a council primary health care facility in Dzivarasekwa, Harare has through interventions from the United States Government (USG) attained 68% Viral Load Coverage (VLC), 96% viral suppression levels as well as increase access to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) to not less than 5039 people living with HIV around its catchment area. By Michael Gwarisa The Polyclinic’s catchment area has a total population of 88, 271 consisting of mostly low income and poor communities and HIV programs at Rujeko Polyclinic are being supported mainly by the U.S President’ Plan for…

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People living with HIV at higher risk of COVID-19 illness but have lower access to COVID-19 vaccines

Michael Gwarisa

AN increasing body of evidence indicates that people living with HIV who acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection are at heightened risk of requiring hospitalization and having poor clinical outcomes. Data from the United States of America show that people living with HIV who acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection were much more likely to require hospitalization and suffer severe illness than people who were HIV-negative, while studies from England and South Africa have found that the risk of dying from COVID-19 among people with HIV was double that of the general population. Advanced HIV disease…

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3.3 Million Children At Risk Of Child Marriage Due To Post Pandemic Hunger Crisis – World Vision

Michael Gwarisa

A child that went to bed hungry in the past 4 weeks is 60% more likely to be married than their peers who did not experience hunger  Number of children experiencing crisis level hunger increased by 12 million between 2019 to 2020, meaning an additional 3.3 million children could be married before the age of 18.   Children who are not in school are 3.4 times more likely to be married than their peers that are in school.    82% of the children interviewed who were married became married after the debut of the pandemic.…

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Regional Psychosocial Support Forum Kicks Off

Michael Gwarisa

THE 6th Edition of the Psychosocial Support Forum (PPS Forum), a hybrid meeting in which discussions are being held both virtually and physically, commenced today with a Children’s Forum ahead of the adult event to be held next week from 13 to 15 October. By Michael Gwarisa The pre-adult forum saw children from 13 countries from East and Southern Africa attending and deliberating on various issues that children and young people face, with the aim of coming up with a Children’s advocacy position they will present at the adult forum…

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Time For Governments To Invest Heavily Towards Mental Health-WHO

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti says the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has brought numerous mental health challenges and  called on governments to allocate financial resources towards mental health. By Michael Gwarisa In her speech ahead of the World Mental Health Day, commemorations to be held tomorrow on 10 October, Dr Moeti said mental health was often-overlooked and a neglected aspect of our well-being. Almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are experiencing isolation, anxiety or depression. World Mental Health Day is a…

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Mutating HIV Virus Making It Difficult To Develop Vaccine

Michael Gwarisa

THE ever-changing genetic makeup and rapid mutation of the HIV virus has to a larger extent slowed down progress towards successfully developing an effective HIV vaccine, a top Zimbabwean expert has said. By Michael Gwarisa The revelations also follow the recent abandonment of the Imbokodo HIV vaccine or HVTN 705/HPX2008 efficacy studies after revelations that the vaccine was not granting enough protection against infection. In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Portia Hunidzarira, the Principal Researcher for the Imbokodo vaccine studies said the HIV virus mutates at a faster rate and…

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WHO Recommends Groundbreaking Malaria Vaccine For Children At Risk

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending widespread use of the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission. The recommendation is based on results from an ongoing pilot programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi that has reached more than 800 000 children since 2019. HealthTimes Reporter “This is a historic moment. The long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Using this…

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Most COVID-19 Survivors Experiencing Long-Haul COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

A new study by the World Health Oraginisation (WHO) has revealed that most patients who suffer from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) fully recover, may experience COVID-19 like symptoms that linger months after they would have recovering. HealthTimes Reporter According to the  study called A clinical case definition of post COVID–19 condition by a Delphi consensus,  patients remain with long-term effects on several body systems, including pulmonary, cardiovascular and nervous systems, as well as psychological effects. These effects appear to occur irrespective of the initial severity of infection, but occur more…

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All Licensed Bars Now Allowed To Open Only To Vaccinated Patrons

Michael Gwarisa

CABINET has announced that bars with valid operating licenses can now reopen but should only admit vaccinated individuals. By Michael Gwarisa Breifing Journalists during a pots cabinet briefing, Infomation minitser, Senetaor Monica Mutsvangwa said, “…Cabinet notes, with concern, that the continued closure of licensed bars and night clubs has caused not only a loss of income and unemployment but also resulted in the mushrooming of illegal outlets. “Cabinet therefore directed that all licensed bars be opened to fully vaccinated clients. Bar owners are also required to ensure that the World…

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