Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Zim Misses Male Circumcision Target By 81.1 % Due To COVID-19 in 2020

Michael Gwarisa

THE national Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) missed its target of circumcising 412,000 men in 2020 and only managed to circumcise 78,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic which derailed all circumcision efforts countrywide due to tight restrictions on movement. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe adopted VMMC as one of its main HIV prevention strategies for men in 2008 with studies having shown that the practice can help reduce HIV transmission in men by about 60%. To date, over 2 million men have been circumcised in Zimbabwe since the commencement of the…

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Ending AIDS By 2030 In Zimbabwe: Churches Better Positioned To Promote Male Engagement In HIV Response

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

CHURCHES and religious institutions play a pivotal role in reducing the number of new HIV infections in men as well as promoting better health seeking behavior amongst in men, top HIV/AIDS experts have said. By Michael Gwarisa According to the 2020 Zimbabwe Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA) Key findings,  HIV prevalence was 15.3% among women and 10.2% among men (ZimPHIA 2020), however more men were still not aware of their HIV status and they were lagging behind in terms of viral load suppression. Speaking during a Virtual workshop for ZCC…

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Zim Rape Law Not Protecting Minors Against Sexual Predators

Michael Gwarisa

CIVIL Society Organizations have come out guns blazing against High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi who recently granted a 26-year-old sex worker Precious Teya bail after ruling that the 13-year-old boy whom she had engaged in transactional sex with was actually a willing participant. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes, Padare/Ekundleni Men’s Forum Programs Officer Jonathan Memory said the   law should be applied without any prejudice and both the girl and boy child should be treated equally at law. There are issues that are there with this bail…

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#JUSTIN: Blood Stocks Gradually Improve

Michael Gwarisa
Epharaim Mubayi

Blood bank pins hopes on schools reopening THE  situation at the blood bank is gradually returning to normal amidst indications that at least four National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) branches are currently running at five days stock levels which is the normal levels for a healthy blood bank . By Michael Gwarisa The development comes at the back of a national call that was made by the the blood bank last month for donors to come forward and donate blood amidst indications that the blood stocks levels were sitting on…

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Cocaine Addiction and Treatment

Michael Gwarisa

Cocaine Abuse Cocaine is a powerful recreational drug most commonly available in a white powder or solid white rock. It is generally snorted, swallowed, injected, or smoked and is highly addictive. Each method comes with its own additional side-effects. For example, snorting cocaine may cause damage to the nasal tissue, and smoking causes respiratory issues. Similarly, intravenous consumption can lead to scarring, infection, and vein damage. Cocaine abuse builds up to addiction when it is no longer a “want” to consume, but a “need.” Cocaine and Its Effects When cocaine…

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Her Voice Fund Projects Make Inroads Despite COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

AT least six organizations that received small grants from the Her Voice Fund successfully implemented a number Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and capacity building initiatives in communities they were operating in despite the restrictions on movement and travel that characterised the year 2020 at the back of a raging COVID-19 pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa The HER Voice Fund grant was allocated by the Global Fund and set aside to support meaningful community engagements and leadership of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in a bid help reduce new HIV infections…

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A Thigh For For A Bucket: Sexual Abuse Reigns Supreme At Boreholes and Waterpoints In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE absence of adequate water and sanitation facilities provides a fertile breeding ground for Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). In both rural and urban settings in Zimbabwe, girls and women travel long distances to fetch water and, in some instances where ablution facilities are not available, they relieve themselves in the bush, further making girls and young women targets of abuse. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of 2019, a sizable number of households in Zimbabwe still lack sufficient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities…

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#JUSTIN: Schools Reopening Dates Announced, All Classes To Resume On March 22

Michael Gwarisa

INFORMATION, publicity and broadcasting services minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has announced a phased reopening of schools with examination classes set for opening on March, 15 2021 while the rest of the classes will be resume on March 22, 2021. She said while addressing a post cabinet media briefing this evening. …More Details to Follow  

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#JUSTIN: Mnangagwa Relaxes Lockdown

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE President Emerson Mnangagwa has relaxed restrictions to the national lock-down. Here are the takeaways: Going forward, the following review is made # The wearing of face masks, temperature checks and use sanitizers remains mandatory # Curfew is adjusted from 10 PM to 5:30 in the morning # Supermarkets can now remain open up to 7 pm. #  SMEs, FOOD markets can reopen # Schools must prepare to open and put in place measures which adhere to WHO protocols # Universities and College must also prepare to Open. Long distance…

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Long Distance Exposes Bikita School Girls To Sugar Daddies And Unintended Pregnancies

Michael Gwarisa

HAZEL Tarungamiswa (17), a form 3 student at Rupare High School in Bikita walks 18 Kilometers to and from her village every day to attend school. By Michael Gwarisa in Bikita Every morning, she has to clean the plates and sweep the yard amongst other household chores before leaving for school. This has however resulted in her arriving late at school some days. To avoid getting late at school and getting caned for doings so, most girls end up catching free rides from strangers, in the process exposing themselves to…

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