Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Zim Pregnant Women Cause For Concern- Findings

Michael Gwarisa
Young Preganant Women

NEW journals by renowned Zimbabwe’s Public Health Expert Dr Grant Murewenhema et al has revealed huge gaps in vaccination among women of reproductive age from resource constrained settings such as Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa The two papers one on Vaccination hesitancy among women of reproductive age in resource-challenged settings: a cause for public health concern and COVID-19 Vaccination for pregnant women in Zimbabwe: a public health challenge that needs an urgent discourse both try to look at how pregnant and women and those of reproductive age are responding to the…

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Dr Natalia Kanem Reappointed UNFPA Executive Director

Michael Gwarisa

THE Executive Board of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Secretary-General have reappointed Dr. Natalia Kanem (Panama) as Executive Director of UNFPA for a second term of four years. By Michael Gwarisa Dr. Kanem joined UNFPA in 2014 as UNFPA Country Representative in the United Republic of Tanzania.  In 2016, she was named Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director (Programme), before being appointed Executive Director in October 2017, bringing more than 30 years of strategic leadership experience in the fields of preventive medicine, public and reproductive health, social justice…

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How Tragedy Birthed Mpilo Hospital’s Pediatric Cardiac Care Unit

Michael Gwarisa

A Cardiac ward for children experiencing heart related complications was recently launched at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, marking the beginning of a journey that will see the country reducing morbidity and mortality in children due to cardiac health conditions. By Michael Gwarisa The Cardiac ward at Mpilo was established by an organization called the Brave Little Hearts in Zimbabwe (BLHZ) that was founded by a young woman, Tendai Moyo. However, many might not know the story behind the birth of Brave Little hearts an organization that saw the pediatric…

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#BREAKING: Police Arrest Bulawayo Couple For Aborting Pregnancy

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have arrested a Bulawayo woman (20) and her boyfriend (27) for unlawfully aborting a pregnancy which resulted in the lady discharging a foetus inside a plastic bucket. By Michael Gwarisa Through their official micro-blogging account, the ZRP said they were also looking for the doctor who assisted the couple in terminating the pregnancy. The ZRP is investigating a case of unlawful termination of pregnancy in which a Bulawayo woman (20) conspired with her boyfriend (27) to terminate pregnancy. The two visited a private doctor who…

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Zimbabwe receives nearly one million COVID-19 vaccine doses from COVAX

Michael Gwarisa

Zimbabwe has received  943,200 COVID-19 vaccine doses from the global COVAX Facility to complement ongoing national vaccine deployment. Health Reporter The vaccines have been received in tranches where the first batch arrived on 29th September and the second batch today, 01 October 2021. In a handover ceremony held this afternoon, Dr John Mangwiro, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care said, “We are grateful to all partners for their support in facilitating the arrival of the vaccines in our country.” The COVAX Facility is a global partnership comprised of the…

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Red Cross Partners Zim Agricultural Society To Provide First Aid and Health Services

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, ZRCS, has partnered with the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, ZAS, through provision of free health and first aid services with the organisation providing COVID 19 vaccinations at this year’s edition of the annual business showcase. Own Correspondent In support of the government accelerated and decentralised vaccination drive, the ZRCS has deployed a team of medical doctors and nurses who are providing COVID 19 vaccinations for free within the exhibition centre, bringing the much-needed services closer to the people who might have missed an opportunity to get…

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There Is Still Hope For The HIV Vaccine

Michael Gwarisa

SCINTISTS who worked on the Imbokodo HIV vaccine trials say all hope is not lost in terms of finding a long lasting HIV prevention method in the form of vaccine. By Patricia Mashiri Speaking during a virtual Media Science Café on Imbokodo Trial Headlines, Dr Portia Hunidzarira the Principal Researcher they are still examining and looking at data from the HIV vaccine trials to see how best they can work around developing a vaccine that has a higher efficacy and protection profile. Vaccine success stories are like this. It took…

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Contraceptive Prevalence Still Depressed In Young People -ZNFPC

Michael Gwarisa

EVEN though all indicators in Zimbabwe’s national family planning program have done well over the years, teenage pregnancies, early child marriages, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and new HIV infections have been on an upward trend in young people due to lack of access to contraceptives and other preventive methods. By Michael Gwarisa Currently, the Zimbabwe Public Health Act does not permit young adolescents to access or purchase contraceptives, medications and other health services in the absence of an adult thus making it difficult for young people below the age of…

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Exclusive!!! MCAZ Speaks On COVID-19 Vaccines Linked Reactions In Zim

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE commenced its national vaccination initiative in February, 2021, kickstarting a campaign that would later yield positive results in the country’s COVID-19 management matrix. Even though only 14% of the national population has been vaccinated to date, available Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) data shows that vaccination has been working in minimizing the risk of developing severe infections and deaths. However, since commencement of the national vaccination program, there has been speculation and skepticism around vaccination, vaccine hesitancy and vaccine phobia as citizens adopted a laid-back approach towards…

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Zim Government Starts Transfer Of Health Workers From Council To Gvt Payroll

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwean government has started the process of transferring health workers from Chitungwiza and Harare Municipalities to government payroll as part of government’s efforts to centralize essential services. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing the media during a pots cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutvsangwa confirmed the development. Cabinet wishes to inform the public that its decision to transfer health workers from the Chitungwiza and Harare Municipalities’ payrolls to the Government payroll has started in earnest, with 60 out of the 65 nursing staff in Chitungwiza having…

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