Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Zb Life Assurance Launches Enhanced Cash Funeral Plan

Michael Gwarisa

The enhanced plan will provide post-burial benefits such as tombstone, memorial service, school fees and cash for groceries, among other funeral and burial costs.  ZB Life Assurance, a subsidiary of ZB Financial Holdings, has launched an enhanced ZB Cash Funeral Plan to provide post-burial benefits to the policyholder, in addition to the cash benefits that assist with the financing of funeral and burial costs. Staff Reporter The enhanced product will help bereaved families to cope with post-burial expenses that are often a huge burden for the surviving relatives. Announcing the…

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MCAZ Registers 202 New Medicines And Pharmaceutical Products

Michael Gwarisa

THE Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has registered a total 202 pharmaceutical products and medicines over the past 12 months in a bid to expand treatment options for various diseases and health complications. By Michael Gwarisa According to MCAZ, 116 products were registered in 2020 while 86 were registered in 2021 while 34 medicines were rejected between 2020 and 2021. A total seven products were withdrawn under the same period. In an Interview with HealthTimes, MCAZ Projects and Public Relations Officer, Mr Shingai Gwatidzo said some of the medications…

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Broken Down Zim Health System Blamed For Community COVID-19 Deaths

Michael Gwarisa

LACK of basic medications and requisite equipment in most of Zimbabwe’s health institutions both primary and public health facilities has led to poor health seeking behavior by citizens, leading to a spike in community COVID-19 deaths and uncontrolled community transmissions, Mr Itai Rusike, the Executive Director for the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has said. By Michael Gwarisa His remarks come at the back of recent revelations by tow of the College of Primary Healthcare Physicians in Zimbabwe (CPCPZ) and the Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians (ZCPHP) that…

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Harare Water & Sanitation Situation Deteriorates Further…Mayor Blames Politics

Michael Gwarisa
Picture From Nehanda Radio

DEMAND for  clean and safe water has surged in Harare, surrounding smaller towns and local authorities, resulting in the City struggling to sustain the daily water demand of 1,200 Megaliters of Water against a daily water production capacity of 340 Megaliters. By Michael Gwarisa This also comes amidst indications that towns like Chitungwiza, Ruwa local authority and places such as Epworth still rely on Harare water for sustenance. The failure by council to provide adequate water has led to residents in Harare and surrounding areas sinking shallow wells and boreholes…

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Hospitals Suspend Non-Emergency Surgeries Due To Blood Shortages

Michael Gwarisa

THE blood stocks crises obtaining in the country’s health sector has pushed most major hospitals in Zimbabwe to defer non-emergency surgeries and prioritise urgent surgical cases. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes in the midst of acute blood shortages as a result of dwindling blood stocks at the blood bank which has been operating at below the required five days normal supply since the month of July. The lockdown measures have also greatly contributed to the declining stocks as blood donors could not travel to blood donation sites. According to…

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Tone Set For 2021 Regional Psychosocial Support Forum

Michael Gwarisa

ALL is set for the sixth Edition of the Regional Psychosocial Support Forum to be held in Maputo, Mozambique from 13 to 15 October 2021. By Michael Gwarisa The forum will jointly be hosted by the Mozambican government and the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) and will run under the theme ‘Innovate. Integrate. Thrive.’ The meeting will be in hybrid format, combining physical and virtual interactions and Zimbabwe among other 12 countries from East and Southern Africa will take part in the meeting which will also bring together 300 delegates…

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Vaccine Boosters Will Worsen Vaccine Nationalism Warns Dr Charimari

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Zimbabwe COVID-19 Team Leader, Dr Lincoln Charimari has warned that adopting vaccine boosters to enhance immunity in already vaccinated populations could trigger massive disparities in as far as vaccines access is concerned for resource limited countries. By Michael Gwarisa His remarks come at the back of indications that vaccine manufactures in other parts of the world were already submitting data seeking authorization to administer COVID-19 booster shots for their vaccinated populations especially those with compromised immunity. In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Charimari said it…

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Ending Harmful Practices Starts With Allowing Girls & Women Bodily Autonomy- UNFPA

Michael Gwarisa
Young Preganant Women

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Zimbabwe’s Assistant Country Representative, Ms Abbigail Msemburi says woman and girls should have power to make decisions over their bodies as a first step towards ending child marriages, traditional harmful practices and all forms of abuse. By Michael Gwarisa Presenting findings from the 2021 State of the World Population (SWOP) Report during a virtual commemoration of the World Population Day, Ms Msemburi said majority of women were still denied bodily autonomy and data from the SWOP indicated that half of women in 57 developing…

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We Will Not Rest Until We Catch Memory’s Rapist

Michael Gwarisa

MINISTER of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon Sithembiso Nyoni has assured the nation that government would leave no stone unturned in resolving the case of Memory Machaya 14 year old girl who died while giving birth at shrine in Bocha. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during the virtual launch 2021 World Population Day, Minister Nyoni said the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic was deepening existing inequalities and vulnerabilities, particularly for women and girls. Existing gender and other inequalities have been exacerbated with girls and young women facing increased threats…

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Zim Should Accelerate Vaccination To Avoid Catastrophic 4th Wave Effects- Experts

Michael Gwarisa

MEDICAL and Public Health Experts have called on Zimbabweans to take up vaccination as a measure to prevent the adverse effects of the oncoming Fourth Wave which has already been reported in some parts of the world including East Africa. By Michael Gwarisa The call comes hot on the heels of a third wave which caused thousands of deaths and infections during the month of July in Zimbabwe. According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), daily cases were now on a downward trend even though causalities are…

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