Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

10 Year Olds Booking At Maternity Units In Marondera…As Early Pregnancies Spike

Michael Gwarisa

GIRLS between the ages 10 to 24, have been make a sizable number of antenatal or pregnancy bookings that were recorded at Nyameni and Dombotombo Clinics in Marondera District during the first quarter of the year 2021. By Michael Gwarisa Majority of the cases were coming from farming communities surrounding Marondera while some were being recorded within Marondera urban settings according to data that was shared by the Marondera Municipality at an Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) meeting in Marondera recently. 152 Antenatal Clinic (ANC) bookings were recorded for…

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WHO Approves Sinovac Vaccine For Emergency Use

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Oorganisation (WHO)has validated the Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, giving countries, funders, procuring agencies and communities the assurance that it meets international standards for safety, efficacy and manufacturing. The vaccine is produced by the Beijing-based pharmaceutical company Sinovac. HealthTimes The world desperately needs multiple COVID-19 vaccines to address the huge access inequity across the globe,” said Dr Mariângela Simão, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Health Products. “We urge manufacturers to participate in the COVAX Facility, share their knowhow and data and contribute to bringing the…

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PSZ Donates PPE To Mashonaland East Health Institutions

Michael Gwarisa

POPULATION Services Zimbabwe (PSZ) has handed a consignment of Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) to 16 Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) health institutions currently being supported  by the organization under the  Public Sector Strengthening (PSS) mechanism  as well as other two health institutions namely Marondera Provincial Hospital and the Zimbabwe National Family Council (ZNFPC) clinic, bringing the total number of institutions that received the donation Mashonaland East to 18. By Michael Gwarisa in Marondera Speaking during the handover ceremony of the donated equipment, Provincial Medical Director (PMD) for Mashonaland…

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Vasikana Project Launches Groundbreaking Menstrual Health Shona Comic Book

Michael Gwarisa

IN a move that is likely to break menstrual health related barriers and misinformation among learners of primary school going age, Vasikana Project has partnered with Menstrupedia of India,  StayFree  Africa and The Sister Accord Foundation to publish a Menstrupedia Shona Comic book in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa Vasikana Project is a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) championing girl empowerment through menstrual health education and they worked with Menstrupedia of India who are the original publishers of the book to translate the comic into Shona. The Sister Accord Foundation donated US$2500…

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The U.S. and ZNNP+ Announce PEPFAR Heroes Award

Michael Gwarisa

ON its 18th anniversary in Zimbabwe, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has announced the 2021 PEPFAR Heroes Award for outstanding individuals who have made a meaningful contribution towards Zimbabwe’s response to HIV and AIDS over the past 18 years. HealthTimes Reporter PEPFAR has partnered with the Zimbabwe Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) in a nationwide call for nominations of PEPFAR Heroes from around the country with a deadline of June 30. 12 Heroes will receive awards as part of the World AIDS Day commemorations…

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Electrical Short Circuit Might Have Caused Mpilo Hospital Fire- Minister Modi

Michael Gwarisa

DEPUTY Minister of Industry and Commerce, Raj Modi said the fire that gutted down Mpilo Central Hospital hostels last might have emanated from a faulty and short circuit. By Michael Gwarisa Even though the fire brigade is yet to conclude their investigations, it is believed that residents of the hostels had reported seeing some sparks emanating from the distribution box or electrical room before. Speaking to Journalists during a tour of the gutted down building, Minister Modi said there was need to scale up fire surveillance and detection systems at…

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Zim COVID-19 Cases Start Increasing

Michael Gwarisa

THE number of active COVID-19 rose to 699 in the past 24 hours following the recording of 113 new cases with majority of cases having recorded in Masvingo. Staff Reporter According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) daily Situation Report, The 94 cases reported today from Masvingo include 16 that tested positive yesterday and 78 that tested positive, all from a localized outbreak at an education institution (Bondolfi Teacher’s College) in Masvingo district. 113New Cases(All Local )and 2Deaths reported in the last 24 hours. (7 day rolling…

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Isolated And Frowned Upon: The Plight Of Zim Women With Obstetric Fistula

Michael Gwarisa

 UNFPA Says there is need for post-surgery psycho-social support for survivors MEMORY (50) (real name protected) from Bikita, Masvingo experienced Obstetric Fistula for the first time on October, 27, 1995 when she had her second child. At first, she didn’t even know what was happening to her, she thought it was just a minor tearing which would heal after a few days. Obstetric fistula is described as the “most devastating birth injury” by the World Health Organization (WHO), that results in continuous and uncontrollable leaking of urine or faeces, resulting…

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White Sadza Is Very Fit For Human Consumption- Zim Nutritionists

Michael Gwarisa

LAST week, Zimbabwean Journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono torched a storm on social media when he attacked Zimbabwe’s staple food, Sadza and suggested through his tweet that Zimbabweans should dump Maize meal Sadza for small grains since Maize was only fit for livestock consumption. “Sadza has ZERO value to our well-being!” he said. “Our ancestors ate superior starch than Sadza. Why aren’t we doing the same? Maize is originally Mexican. In advanced economies, it is for cattle!” By Michael Gwarisa He also added that Maize meal is fortified because it lacks the…

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