Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Avenues Clinic Reopens Casualty Facility After Brief Lockdown

Michael Gwarisa

THE Avenues Clinic has re-opened its casualty center after a brief haitus following a COVID-19 incident which had occurred in the accident and emergency unit  towards the of July, 2020. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, The Avenues Clinic management said they had followed strict health precautions regarding the disinfection of the facility as well as isolating infected employees ahead of its re-opening Following the communication of 24July 2020regarding temporary closure of the Accident and Emergency (Casualty) Unit, the hospital would like to advise that the unit will be re-opening…

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#TalkingCOVI-19WithDrGrant: From 550 To 3500 cases In 1 Month: What’s next?

Michael Gwarisa
Dr Grant Murewanhema

THE first case of COVID-19 was reported in Zimbabwe on 20 March 2020, and it took almost 4 months to get to 500 cases. There was widespread hope that we could contain the spread. For that entire period, the majority of cases were confirmed among returning residents from South Africa, and were diagnosed at points of entry and quarantine centres. However, the past month (July) has seen an uprecedented rise in cases, with over 2000 new cases diagnosed, and 490 cases diagnosed in the past 24 hours. By Dr Grant…

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Children Under 5 Could Spread Coronavirus More Than Adults- New Study

Michael Gwarisa

CHILDREN below the age of five could be major carriers of the coronavirus as compared to adults, a new study has found. By Michael Gwarisa According to the study “Age-Related Differences in Nasopharyngeal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Levels in Patients With Mild to Moderate Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19),” which was  published in JAMA Pediatrics and led by Dr. Taylor Heald-Sargent, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, children are susceptible to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2…

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Ministry of Health To Present Grant Proposals For NBSZ Recapitalisation

Michael Gwarisa
Dr Gibson Mhlanga

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) says it is working on presenting a grant proposal to treasury for the recapitalisation of the national blood bank in a bid to strengthen the organization’s operations and effectiveness, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa The NBSZ has over the past few years been making numerous calls for recapitalisation so that they could invest in latest technologies and equipment to ensure smooth operations go uninterrupted. Addressing participants during a Zoom Webinar conference to mark the end of the World Blood Donor day…

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Post Mortem Confirms Minister Shiri Died Of COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

PRESIDENT Emerson Mnangagwa has confirmed that retired Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) Commander, and Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri, died of Covid-19. Briefing mourners at the late minister’s Borrowdale home, President Mnangagwa said post mortem results which came in today confirmed that minister Shiri succumbed to COVID-19. “Now that it is confirmed that Minister Shiri died of Covid 19, we will follow World Health Organisation regulations on how the funeral should proceed.” Minister Shiri died early yesterday at the age of 65.

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#JUSTIN: Wfp Urgently Seeks International Support To Prevent Millions Of Zimbabweans Plunging Deeper Into Hunger

Michael Gwarisa

WITH COVID-19 aggravating an already severe hunger crisis in Zimbabwe, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today appealed for an additional US$250 million to support a rapidly expanding emergency operation for millions at-risk. By Michael Gwarisa WFP projections indicate that by year’s end, the number of food insecure Zimbabweans will have surged by almost 50 percent to touch 8.6 million – a staggering 60 percent of the population – owing to the combined effects of drought, economic recession and the pandemic. Many Zimbabwean families are suffering the ravages of…

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#JUSTIN: 9 ZUPCO Employees Test Positive For COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

AT least nine Zimbabwe Passengers Company (ZUPCO) employees have tested positive for COVID-19. By Michael Gwarisa This was confirmed in statement by the company’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Evaristo Madangwa who indicated that majority of the employees who had tested were from the cash office. The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) conducted a screening at Willovale Depot on July, 29, 2020. Nine ZUPCO employees most of them from the Cash Office were unfortunately found to be COVID-19 positive. “One other employee at Belvedare Head Office has…

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Asking For USD Salaries Is Insane, Gvt Tells Senior Doctors

Michael Gwarisa

THE Acting Permanent secretary in the ministry of health and child care (MoHCC) Dr Gibson Mhlanga has described demands by senior doctors to have their salaries paid in United States Dollars (USD) as insanity. By Michael Gwarisa In a response to a letter that was penned by the Zimbabwe Senior Hospital Doctors Association’s (SHDA) executive where they gave government a 14 days ultimatum to fix the salaries issue and shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Dr Mhlanga said the US salary route was unsustainable and proven failed option. Senior Doctors…

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Heated tobacco use on the increase worldwide: Philip Morris International

Michael Gwarisa

PHILIP Morris International (PMI) has announced its 2020 second-quarter results, including reporting that its net revenues were down by 13.6 percent while certain categories within the company is seeing gains, including heated tobacco. By Michael Gwarisa In its latest report, PMI reported that cigarette and heated tobacco unit shipments were down by 14.5 percent. This included cigarette shipment volume being down by 17.6 percent and heated tobacco unit shipment volume being up by 24.3 percent to a total of 18.7 billion units. PMI’s market share for heated tobacco units in…

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#JUSTIN: Agriculture Minister Perrance Shiri Dies

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE’S minister of agriculture, Air Chief Marshall (rtd) Perrance has died. HealthTimes Reporter Confirming the death, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said, “I am deeply saddened to inform the Nation of the death of the Minister of Agriculture, Air Chief Marshall (rtd) Perrance Shiri, a long time friend and colleague. Cde Shiri was a true patriot, who devoted his life to the liberation, independence and service of his country. May his soul rest in peace.”

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