Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Zimbabwe To Commemorate World AIDS Day

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE  joins the rest of the world in commemorating the World AIDS Day on Tuesday, 1 December 2020. This is a day to unite in the fight to end the HIV epidemic, support people living with HIV, and remember those who have lost their lives. HealthTimes Reporter The theme for 2020 is Global Solidarity: Shared Responsibility: Ending AIDS By 2030. The theme comes at a time when Zimbabwe, and the world at large are working towards ensuring that by 2030, AIDS will no longer be a public health threat.  This…

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Power Imbalances Continue To Drive Women Into Gender-Based Violence

Michael Gwarisa

RESEARCH and reports show that about 94% of gender based violence cases reported between March to October 2020 were against women amidst indications that men still believe in gender norms and traditional harmful practices which usually lead into violation of women’s rights. By Paticia Mashiri There are mainly four forms of gender-based violence which include economic, sexual, physical and emotional abuse while poverty has been identified as a leading cause of GBV. Speaking at a GBV round table dialogue with women in the informal sector which was hosted by Women’s…

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Health Sector Gets ZWL54.7 Billion In 2021 Budget

Michael Gwarisa

TREASURY has allocated an amount to the tune of ZWL54.7 Billion which is about 13% of the 2021 national budget to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC). By Michael Gwarisa Presenting the 2021 National budget, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube said despite the challenging economic environment, the government has over the last two years been providing significant resources to revive the health system in areas such as reproductive, maternal, new-born and adolescent health and nutrition services. The health crisis provides useful lessons for longer-term reforms…

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Blood Bank Recruiting Adult Blood Donors

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) board chairperson, Advocate Rodgers Matsikidze says they have adopted new strategies to recruit more adult blood donors to ensure the blood bank does not run dry even in the face of an emergency such as the COVID-19. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes at the back of revelations that the blood bank only managed to collect slightly above 50% of its 2020 blood collection target. According to Advocate Matsikidze, amongst their new strategies include following up on adults who used to donate as…

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Zimbabwe Launches 2020 World AIDS Day Campaign

Michael Gwarisa

AS the 2020 World AIDS Day (WAD) commemorations draw near, Zimbabwe has launched the WAD 2020 Campaign theme, theme song and logo. By Michael Gwarisa The WAD 2020 will be running under the theme “Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility, Ending AIDS By 2030. According to the National AIDS Council (NAC), the 2020 WAD Celebrations will be held on December 1, 2020 in Harare at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), under strict observance of COVID-19 regulations in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) set standards. Speaking during a virtual Press…

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NBSZ Honors Milestone Blood Donors

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has awarded top four milestone blood donors as a gesture of appreciating the selfless sacrifice by the individuals. By Michael Gwarisa Amongst the awardees are Mr Jillian Buss who has clocked 275 donations, Mr Leo Ngezimani the first African blood donor in Zimbabwe to attain 200 donations, Mr Edward Mwase 125 donations and Ms Sophie Mutandwa who has reached 25 donations in line with her Plegde 25 promise. Speaking at the awards handover ceremony, NBSZ Board Chair, Advocate Rodgers Matsikidze said giving blood…

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Kick-Out Stunting Campaign To Raise Awareness On Micro-nutrients Deficiencies In Children

Michael Gwarisa

THERE is need to address the issue of micro-nutrients deficiencies in children at a very young age in order to arrest the malnutrition and stunting problem  currently haunting Zimbabwe, a nutritionist has said. By Michael Gwarisa According to the 2020 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) survey, stunting remains high at 29.4% for the children under the age of five. The national stunting prevalence was reported to be 29.4% among children6-59 months. The Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate was 3.7% and below the WHO threshold for emergency. Children identified as underweight…

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Cimas introduces new nostro medical aid packages

Michael Gwarisa

CIMAS Medical Aid Society has introduced three new foreign currency medical aid packages, intended to give those able to pay for medical aid from a domestic nostro account access to healthcare services with a minimal shortfall or none at all. Membership contributions for the three new packages, dubbed Secure Packages will be paid from the member’s local nostro account. Claims will likewise be settled by payment into domestic nostro accounts. The three new packages are Secure Essential, an entry level nostro package giving access to Group B private hospitals up…

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How Antibiotics Are Finding Their Way Onto Your Diner Table

Michael Gwarisa

AS the world is grappling with emerging novel public health threats and natural disasters, lurking in the dark is an even more lethal and irreversible health challenge, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), a catastrophe which could wipe out an entire civalisation if something is not done NOW. By Michael Gwarisa According to the World Health Oragnisation (WHO), by the year 2050, the world will be faced with a catastrophe of double proportions and will be losing about 10 million people yearly at a huge cost.  A number of strides have been made…

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UNESCO And Gvt Launch New WhatsApp Based Education App

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in partnership with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) has this morning launched a WhatsApp-based educational application, Dzidzo Paden|Imfundwe’ndlini. By Michael Gwarisa Dzidzo paden|Imfundwe’ndlini is a WhatsApp automated chatbot aimed at distributing premium academic resources to learners who have limited or no access to the internet but have access to WhatsApp. The chatbot will start by distributing curriculum-aligned academic resources (notes, past exam papers and marking schemes) for Grade 7s, Form 4s and…

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