Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

#JUSTIN: Call Off 31 July Protests, Gvt Warns Opposition As Local COVID-19 Cases Skyrocket

Michael Gwarisa

INFORMATION, publicity and broadcasting services Minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa, has called on all political leaders to call off the planned 31 July protests citing COVID-19 infections fears, amidst a spike in local transmissions. By Michael Gwarisa In a media brief, Minister Mutsvangwa said in as much as the call protests was a democratic right, it was ill-timed and could expose millions of Zimbabweans to COVID-19 infections. On 1 July, Zimbabwe recorded 14 new cases, on the 4th the number shot to 73 new cases, and yesterday our numbers jumped to…

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UNICEF Zim In Major COVID-19 & Immunization Cold Chain Donation

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) today received a consignment consisting of 968 solar direct driven refrigeration towards Zimbabwe’s expanded program on immunization and 134 Oxygen Concentrators in support of Zimbabwe’s fight against COVID-19. By Michael Gwarisa The delivery is part of the Health Development Fund (HDF) that is managed by UNECEF while the 968 solar direct refrigerators were procured by GAVI at a tune of US$3, 444, 828.15 Million. The HDF is funded by the United Kingdom DFID, European Union (EU), Irish Aid, and the Global Vaccines…

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#JUSTIN: Blood Coupon Facility Suspension Lifted…As Gvt Pays ZW$43 Million To NBSZ

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has confirmed receipt of an amount to the tune of  ZW$43.5 Million from treasury from an outstanding bill of ZW$125, 710, 200 Million, a move which is likely to ease operational constraints bedeviling the blood bank. By Michael Gwarisa The NBSZ had recently written to all public health institutions advising them of a suspension of the coupons facility which would grant them access to blood and blood products on credit. However owing to financial challenges, the facility had been suspended, paving way for…

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#BREAKING: Free Blood Initiative Under Siege As NBSZ Suspends Blood Coupons

Michael Gwarisa

PATIENTS in need of blood and blood products in both public and private health institutions will likely be forced to pay in United States Dollars (USD) or an exchange rate equivalent to the Old Mutual implied rate or other comparable exchange rates, following the suspension of the coupon facility which would see health institutions access blood and blood products on credit. By Michael Gwarisa The move also comes after the National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBS) has been making numerous calls for foreign currency injection from government to facilitate the…

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73 Countries Face ARVs Stock-outs Due To COVID-19 Warns WHO

Michael Gwarisa

SEVENTY-THREE countries have warned that they are at risk of stock-outs of antiretroviral (ARV) medicines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new WHO survey conducted ahead of the International AIDS Society’s biannual conference. Twenty-four countries reported having either a critically low stock of ARVs or disruptions in the supply of these life-saving medicines.  The survey follows a modelling exercise convened by WHO and UNAIDS in May which forecasted that a six-month disruption in access to ARVs could lead to a doubling in AIDS-related deaths in sub-Saharan…

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#BREAKING: Health Minister Obadiah Moyo Fired

Michael Gwarisa

PRESIDENT Emerson Mnangagwa has fired health and child care minister Obhadiah Moyo. By Michael Gwarisa According to Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, the President has in terms of Section 340, Subsection, paragraph (f) as read with Section 104 subsection (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, removed from the office of cabinet minister Dr Obhadiah Moyo  from the office of cabinet minster with immediate effect for conduct inappropriate for a government minister.

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UNFPA, Partners Call For Eradication Of Early Marriages and Other Harmful Practices In Zim

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for collective effort in ending the growing burden of early marriages and other harmful practices which compromise the health and future of young people especially girls and women. By Michael Gwarisa Every year, millions of girls are subjected to practices that harm them physically and emotionally with the full knowledge and consent of their families, friends and communities, according to the State of World Population 2020, recently launched by UNFPA, the United Nations’ sexual and reproductive health agency. Findings from the State…

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Gvt Prepares Domboshawa Training Centre To Quarantine Returnee Ex-Convicts

Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT is in the process of setting up Domboshawa Training center to accommodate ex-convicts returning from neighboring countries. By Michael Gwarisa In a media brief, Information, publicity and broadcasting services minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa said even though there were no known ex-convicts in quarantine centers at the moment, they were planning in advance, in case the need arises. With regards to the quarantining of ex-convicts the Domboshawa Training Centre is still being prepared to accommodate these, as an alternative to Prince Edward High School. However, currently, there are no known…

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Bring It On, We Have Nothing More To Lose, Striking Nurses Tell Gvt After Arrest of Colleagues

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have arrested and detained  Harare Hospital nurses for allegedly planning to stage a demonstration against slave wages, a move that has sparked anger amongst nurses. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZIMA) President, Enoch Dongo condemned the act and called on authorities to release the health workers immediately. Today, July 6, 2020, we have received information that nurses have been arrested at Harare Hospital. Indications are that the arrests were done allegedly for the purposes of avoiding a demonstration at Harare…

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