Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

U.S. Contributes $60.55 Million To WFP To Assist Zim During Lean Season.

Michael Gwarisa

[dropcap] THE[/dropcap] United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide $60.55 million toward the World Food Programme’s (WFP) 2020/21 Lean Season Food Assistance program in Zimbabwe. HealthTimes Reporter The lean season assistance will begin in August and will feed nearly one million people during the peak of the season, from January to April 2021. Zimbabwe faces one of its worst food security crises in a decade due to the combined effects of failed economic and agricultural policies, corruption, consecutive poor agricultural seasons, the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, and now,…

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Zim PLHIV Situation Room Launched

Michael Gwarisa

THE People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Situation Room has been launched in Zimbabwe as a means of enhancing communication and data collection system aimed at improving PLHIV engagement, inform service providers, and foster positive change in the HIV response. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual launch of the platform, Zimbabwe National Network Of People Living With HIV (ZNNP+) Executive Director, Mr Tatenda Makoni said the facility will boost advocacy work and facilitate communication between Civil Society Organisations and the HIV community. The program comes with a toll-free line and…

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21 Year Old Lady Becomes Zim’s Latest COVID-19 Death

Michael Gwarisa

A 21 year old young lady has become the latest COVID-19 casualty in Zimbabwe, bringing the total number of deaths to eight. By Michael Gwarisa The death comes at a time Zimbabwe is experiencing a spike in daily new infections with indications that local and community transmissions could be on the rise owing to the relaxation of restrictions. According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) daily COVID-19 update, the country recorded 7 new cases as at July,4 2020. “These include returnees from South Africa (55), Botswana (3),…

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241 Zim Children Admitted For Severe Acute Malnutrition Treatment During Lockdown

Michael Gwarisa

THE COVID-19 induced lockdown has worsened the food security situation at household level, in the process, compromising the nutrition status of children and pregnant women, amidst indications that a total 214 children were admitted for treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) by the month of May, 2020. By Michael Gwarisa According to the 2020 Zimbabwe Humanitarian Response Plan which was launched in April this year, around 7 million people across the country are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZIMVAC) report also highlighted that the…

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#JUSTIN: Zim Records 13 Local COVID-19 Cases In One Day

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE today recorded 14 new COVID-19 cases including one returning Zimbabwean from South Africa and 13 local cases. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) daily COVID-19 update, all the cases are in isolation where they are being managed. Fourteen cases tested positive for COVID-19 today. These include a returnee from South Africa (1) and 13 local cases who are isolated. “Two of the local cases are contacts  to known confirmed cases. investigations are under way to establish the source of infection for the…

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African Union Says Urgent Need To Address Patents & Technology Barriers For Access To Future COVID-19 Vaccines

Michael Gwarisa

IN a communique issued following the ‘Africa’s Leadership Role in COVID-19 Vaccine Development and Access’ conference of the African Union (AU), African health ministers took a crucial step to state their concern that patents and other technology barriers could negatively impact the ability to ensure access of future potential COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries. This acknowledgement stands in stark contrast to the misconception commonly expressed by pharmaceutical corporations and some public health actors that intellectual property does not play a major role in restricting access to vaccines. Not only does…

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Zim Malaria Cases Decline

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) says the country is experiencing a decline in Malaria cases at the back of response initiatives government initiated in the past few months. HealthTimes Correspondant According to the Ministry of Health,  weekly cases and deaths are on declining as we go into winter. “This decline can be attributed in large part to the following response activities implemented in the outbreak affected areas; active testing and treatment of cases by village health workers, mass net distribution in six districts of Mat South and…

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#JUSTIN: Restaurants Now Allowed To Serve Sit-in Meals

Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT has resolved to allow restaurants to serve sit-in meals as the country gradually moves towards relaxing COVID-19 restrictions. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing Journalists during a Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Information, publicity and broadcasting services, Ambassador Monica Mutsvangwa said the move was also part of the easing of restrictions for the hospitality and tourism industry which is amongst the sectors which have been hardest hit by the COVID-19. In the tourism and hospitality sector, requests for variations of Operating Conditions in respect of Restaurant Operators and to re-open Safari Operators…

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Masiyiwa gives US$50 monthly assistance to help COVID-19 victims for 3 months Calls on victims to step forward in order to get support

Michael Gwarisa

WORRIED that there are people suffering at home from COVID-19 that have not come forward, Strive Masiyiwa, through his Higher Life Foundation (HLF), called upon them to come forward on their own and report their status so that they can get assistance worth US$50 per month. Masiyiwa, whose HLF now offers free COVID-19 testing, wants to identify and support anyone who is currently suffering from the disease but has no real incentive to come forward. The foundation is offering food, water, blankets, airtime and medicines, among other forms of support,…

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Time To Confront Silent & Endemic Crisis Of Harmful Practices- UNFPA

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, released today by UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. At least 19 harmful practices, ranging from breast ironing to virginity testing, are considered human rights violations, according to the UNFPA report Against My Will, which focuses on the three most prevalent ones: child marriage, female genital mutilation and extreme bias against daughters…

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