Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Malawi Launches Second Edition of Pathogen Genomic Surveillance Strategy and Implementation Plan

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter The Malawi Ministry of Health, launched its updated plan for the implementation of its Genomic Surveillance Strategy that was produced with technical support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention – Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI) on 3 July. As pathogen genomics provides a powerful approach towards the investigation, management, and surveillance of infectious diseases, the plan is geared to include integration of multi-pathogen genomic surveillance into existing public health systems, research and development. The second version of the plan is aligned to Africa…

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Renovated Mutawatawa Hospital To Boost Maternal Health Outcomes

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a significant step towards improving maternal and neonatal health in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP), Mutawatawa District Hospital has completed extensive renovations of its theatre department and waiting mothers’ shelter, with financial support from the World Bank, Cordaid and the Government of Zimbabwe. The refurbished hospital now boasts a fully equipped and modernised theatre capable of handling two operations simultaneously, a new radiography unit with a digital X-ray machine, and upgraded waiting mothers’ facilities designed to offer dignified shelter to expecting mothers. The renovations were undertaken by…

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Zimbabwe’s Medicines Regulator MCAZ Eyes WHO Maturity Level 4 Certification

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s medicines regulator, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), is working towards achieving Maturity Level 4 under the World Health Organization’s Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT), a prestigious certification that would place the country among a select group of nations with advanced regulatory systems. Having attained Maturity Level 3 in June 2024, MCAZ is now recognised by the WHO as a stable, well-functioning regulatory authority. The move to Maturity Level 4 signals the Authority’s ambition to continuously improve regulatory oversight, enhance transparency, and adopt globally accepted best…

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Pharmaceutical Industry Grapples with Regulation, Border Smuggling, and Workforce Underuse, Appeals for Government Support

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s pharmaceutical sector is buckling under the weight of multiple systemic challenges, ranging from excessive regulation and porous borders enabling black market medicine sales, to the underutilisation of qualified professionals in public health facilities. Speaking at the third annual Community Pharmacists Association and Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association Conference, Mr. Stephen Banda, representing the Ministry of Health and Child Care, said the government was deeply concerned about the diversion of medicines from public facilities to the black market, which is undermining both health outcomes and trust in the system.…

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Study Validates Impact of International Teams in Africa’s Outbreak Response

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  A new study conducted by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in collaboration with the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) has confirmed the critical role international health teams have played in strengthening outbreak response across the African continent. The study also underscores the need for more strategic and context-specific support models to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience in national health systems. Presented and validated during a high-level virtual workshop held from 23 to 24 June 2025, the study offers one of…

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WHO Report launched last week warrants stronger measures to save lives from deadly tobacco and nicotine products and hold industry liable

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  The WCTC Declaration calls upon the governments of the world to accelerate the implementation of all measures under the WHO FCTC in order to end the tobacco epidemic. Among other actions, it urges countries to: “Recognise the tobacco industry as the biggest barrier to global progress in tobacco control. Reject engagements with organisations working with, or funded by, the tobacco industry. Hold the tobacco industry liable for the harms it causes, including seeking compensation through legal actions” Tobacco industry’s so-called ‘Techno-innovation’ is just another tactic to push…

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National AIDS Council Holds 2023 AGM, Sets Sights on 2030 HIV Targets

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The National AIDS Council (NAC) on Thursday held its long-awaited Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2023, following a year-long hiatus after the dissolution of the previous board. The AGM, which had been delayed throughout 2024, marked a significant turning point in NAC’s operations as the newly appointed board seeks to restore momentum in the country’s HIV response and scale up efforts toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Now that the board is in place, NAC is not only catching up on pending statutory…

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Avenues Clinic’s Five-Star Renovation Could Heal Even a Broken Heart

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  There are hospitals, and then there are healing sanctuaries. The moment you walk into the newly refurbished wings of Avenues Clinic in Harare, a quiet calm settles over you. The space exudes class, care and compassion. The atmosphere is warm, the lighting gentle, and the décor feels less like a hospital and more like a high-end wellness retreat. Here, healing begins the moment you enter, long before any medicine is prescribed. The new look could quite literally heal even a broken heart. In a tour of the…

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ZICHIRE Takes Fight Against Drug Abuse and Teen Pregnancies to Epworth

Michael Gwarisa

By Kuda Pembere The Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research Project (ZICHIRE) took its campaign against drug and substance abuse, as well as teenage pregnancies, to Epworth last Friday. Amid growing concerns over these social ills across the country, ZICHIRE noted that men often avoid visiting health facilities. In response, the organization conducted an integrated outreach at Solani Shopping Centre in Epworth to bridge this gap. Speaking to HealthTimes during the outreach, Samantha Mugudubi, ZICHIRE’s Programs Officer for Epworth, explained that they were targeting men—who typically shun health facilities—with various health…

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CEREVITA Boosts Nutrition and Local Pride as Nestlé Expands Production in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By HealthTimes Reporter Nestlé Zimbabwe has ramped up production of its flagship wholegrain breakfast cereal, CEREVITA, as part of a US$7 million investment into local manufacturing. The move promises to enhance national nutrition, improve food security, and reinforce Zimbabwe’s growing reputation as a regional cereal hub. Driven by Nestlé’s global purpose to unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life, the investment is already bearing fruit. The increased availability of CEREVITA across Zimbabwe is not just meeting growing consumer demand but also promoting healthier eating habits through a…

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