Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Tinashe Mugabe Prepares For Legal Battle With Lab Council

Michael Gwarisa

THE DNA man and host of the Closure DNA Show, Tinashe Mugabe has come out guns blazing against the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council Zimbabwe for rushing to share damaging information without communicating or consulting with the Global DNA company. Staff Reporter In a statement, Global DNA said they were a registered entity and everything they were doing was above board hence the public should treat the press statement by the council as nothing more than fake news. Firstly, the company would like to to reassure our stakeholders and…

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2gether 4 SRHR Programme Withers COVID-19 Storm

Michael Gwarisa

THROUGH 2gether 4 SRHR, an integrated Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) programme,  Zimbabwe has  continued offering services to young girls and women in the districts the initiative is being implemented despite the raging effects of COVID-19. By Michael Gwarisa The 2gether 4 SRHR program is a joint initiative which is being implemented  in 10 selected countries in East and Southern Africa, Zimbabwe included. The program aims among other things to reduce unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), new HIV infections, maternal mortality and sexual and gender-based violence (GBV). Speaking…

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Ministry Of Health, WHO Implement Non-Chemical Based Malaria Prevention Measures In Chiredzi

Michael Gwarisa

THE Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other stakeholders in malaria control is carrying out a study on  a malaria prevention approach in Chiredzi district, Masvingo province, through a project called the AFRO II Project, a multi country initiative which aims at developing measures which are environmentally sound and effective for malaria vector control. By Michael Gwarisa The AFRO II  Project is a research study that is aimed at gathering evidence for additional/alterative interventions against…

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Without Mandatory Vaccination, Will Zimbabwe Meet December Herd Immunity Target?

Michael Gwarisa

WHEN Zimbabwe launched its national COVID-19 vaccination drive in February this year, health and child care minister Dr Constantino Chiwenga announced that the target was to vaccinate at least 10 million Zimbabweans in order to attain herd immunity. Just recently, information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa told Journalists during g a post cabinet media briefing that government was still optimistic of reaching the herd immunity target by December. By Michael Gwarisa However, over the past seven months since commencement of the national vaccination initiative, a number of…

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Ban On Unvaccinated Church Congregants Still Stands

Michael Gwarisa
Members from various churches gather at the women and girls symposium

THE Zimbabwean government has maintained that the ban on unvaccinated church congregants was still effective despite the high court having recently ruled giving churches temporary relief under the belief that that it was no longer mandatory for church members to get jabbed in order to attend church. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing journalists during post cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monca Mutsvangwa said the risk of transmission was still high in paces of gathering and the church gatherings would not exceed 50% of the churches’ holding…

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Rise In Suicides Among Zim Male Tertiary Students Exposes Need for Peer-to-Peer Counseling in Zim Universities and Colleges

Michael Gwarisa

AS the world marks Suicide prevention Month this September, a rather disturbing trend has reared its ugly head in Zimbabwe. Within a space four weeks, two local tertiary male students have committed suicide over matters of the heart. It’s possible that there could be more other male students struggling with mental health issues right now and probably contemplating the worst and without proper mechanisms and interventions in place, more lives could be lost. By Michael Gwarisa Suicide is preventable but why is it that we continue losing lives to this…

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Make First Aid Training Compulsory In All Zim Schools Urges Red Cross

Michael Gwarisa

EVERY child should at least have some basic first aid training or background so as to reduce unnecessary loss of life or serious injuries from salvageable situations, a top Red Cross Society official has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during the 2021 World First Aid Day (WFAD) commemorations that were held at Red Cross High School in Harare, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) Secretary General, Mr Elias Hwenga said the Red Cross was committed to scaling up its first aid programmes to ensure every community across the country  is…

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RELATIONSHIPS: Dating The Important Step For Young People

Michael Gwarisa

Adolescence is a time that comes with its own challenges for young people and their parents or guardians. The young people have to negotiate carefully through the potential `landmines` that can detonate anytime during the adolescent years! By Fadzayi Maposah It is important to note that the mistakes that young people make in their adolescence can affect their future and also leave scars. Adolescence should be treated with a lot caution! It is a time to be enjoyed and celebrated by the young people and their parents and guardians. In…

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Private Sector Welcomes Avenues Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Drive

Michael Gwarisa

THE Avenues Clinic vaccination program which commenced three weeks ago has received an overwhelming response from corporates and private sector employees. Speaking to HealthTimes, Avenues Clinic Corporate Affairs Officer, Cordelia Shereni said a total 2459 have been fully vaccinated at their facilities while 2307 have received the first dose and they inoculate over 200 per day. In support of the Government’s efforts to make the Covid-19 vaccine easily accessible to the public, Medical Investments Limited (MIL) set up two Covid-19 vaccination sites. The sites were set up with the assistance…

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Red Cross Clinic Opens Free Vaccination Center

Michael Gwarisa

IN a move that is likely to boost vaccines uptake among Zimbabwean citizens, the Red Cross Clinic in Harare has opened up a vaccination site that is offering vaccination services free of charge. By Michael Gwarisa The center is situated at the Red Cross Clinic close to Copacabana Clinic in the capital and since the center opened its doors to the public, numbers between 150 and 250 are being vaccinated daily with indications on the ground showing that the numbers may triple in the not-so-distant future. Briefing Journalists during press…

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