Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

#COVID-19: NAC Adjusts HIV Services According To COVID-19 Framework

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Aids Council (NAC) says it has modified its operations in accordance with the new COVID-19 environment in a bid to avoid disruption of critical services under the prevailing pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa In an Interview with HealthTimes, NAC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Benard Madzima said services were largely affected at the initial stages of the lockdown owing to strict restrictions which characterized the environment then but they have since found innovative ways of availing critical services to communities across the country. Since the start of the national…

Read More

#JUSTIN: Gweru Provincial Hospital Boss Assaults Sister In Charge

Michael Gwarisa

GWERU Provincial Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr Fabian Mashingaidze allegedly attacked the Hospitals’ Sister In Charge, Sr Chenaimoyo Kudzinetsa Masvusvu amidst ongoing power struggles at the health institution. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking on the incident, Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union president, Mr Robert Chiduku said the abuse has been going on for a while at the institution as Dr Mashingaidze is fighting tooth and nail to replace the existing leadership at the hospital and replace it with his cronies. We would like to condemn verbal, emotional and physical abuse perpetrated on our…

Read More

Blood Recipient Turned Blood Donor…How Nobuhle’s Labour Encounter Turned Her Into A Blood Donating Hero

Michael Gwarisa
Nobuhle Magava

HEROES come in different packages. Some come wielding lethal shiny semi-automatic AK47 rifles and whatever latest weaponry that may be at their disposal. For some, all it takes is just a few minutes of their time and a little prick from a needle to save many lives through donating the precious liquid of blood. By Michael Gwarisa For Nobuhle Magava(45), her experience giving birth to her first child was her Damascene moment, an epiphany that made her change her perception about giving blood for the rest of her life. After…

Read More

Zim Quarantine Facilities Still Experiencing Test Kits Shortages- ZADHR

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has raised alarm of the low testing levels across Zimbabwe’s quarantine facilities as a result of shortages of test kits. By Michael Gwarisa According to the ZADHR’s 6th COVID-19 Monitoring and Advocacy Report, the shortages have resulted in test kits being priced way above the reach of many. Over the past 2 weeks ZADHR has received reports of shortages of screening and test kits at quarantine centres in Harare, Gweru, Chinhoyi and Victoria Falls and in some cases returnees being asked…

Read More

Infertility: Don’t wait until it’s too late!

Michael Gwarisa

JUNE is World Infertility Awareness Month and there’s no better time to be proactive about your fertility health Parenthood is undeniably one of the most universally desired goals in adulthood, and most people have life plans that include children. However, not all couples who want a pregnancy will achieve one spontaneously and a proportion will need to seek medical treatment to help resolve underlying fertility problems. It’s therefore understandable that infertility has been recognised as a public health issue worldwide by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Infertility is when you…

Read More

Blood Bank Running At Less Than 5 Days Stocks

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ),  the country’s blood bank has run dry. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a Webiner Press Conference, NBSZ Public Affairs manger, Ms Esther Massundah told journalists that stocks had drastically been depleted over the knockdown period owing to a myriad of factors chief among them being lack of funding to procure critical consumables. We are currently running low in terms of our blood stocks. We have got blood stocks that are below the five days, which is the standard requirement of the blood bank to…

Read More

COVID-19 Affects Condom Distribution…Sex Workers Fear For Lives

Michael Gwarisa

THE Women Against All Forms Of Discrimination (WAAD), an organisation representing rights of sex workers and women has warned of a possible spike in new HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections during the lockdown period due shortages of condoms and other critical sexual reproductive health (SRH) services. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking to HealthTimes, WAAD Coordinator, Ms Hazel Zemura said the COVID-19 induced lockdown had affected distribution of essential SRH services especially amongst sex workers who have since moved their trade from clubs and bars to the streets and highways where truck…

Read More

Rasha Kelej creates a song by singers from 11 African countries to support medical workers during Coronavirus battle

Michael Gwarisa

Rasha Kelej: I have directed and produced for the first time, a song by singers from 11 African countries for the first time together in three languages; English, French and Arabic to show our support for medical workers around the world. This is my personal contribution towards the response to Coronavirus pandemic. In what has now become a global way of showing support and appreciation for medical workers around the world, during Coronavirus battle, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and One of 100 Most Influential Africans started her…

Read More

Stanbic Commences Countrywide Distribution Of US$200 000 Worth Of COVID-19 Donations

Michael Gwarisa

LEADING financial services institution, Stanbic Bank has kick-started the distribution of US$200 000 worth of equipment to health institutions throughout the country for use by frontline workers in the fight against the menacing Covid-19. The Standard Bank Group subsidiary pledged to purchase equipment to help fight Covid-19 in April and has now taken delivery of US$200 000 worth of 32 500 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) which include suits, masks, face shields and goggles; 2 400 PCR tests, 3 000 sanitizers and 5 ventilators expected in the country this…

Read More

#JUSTIN: Blood Shortages Hit Zim

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) says blood supplies has been greatly reduced during the Lockdown period at the back of shortages of critical imported consumables such as test kits and blood bags, owing to serious funding and procurement challenges. By Michael Gwarisa The Blood Bank’s Public Affairs Manager, Ms Esther Massundah in a statement said due to the to the COVID-19 pandemic, the procurement of these critical items has been delayed due to logistics challenges caused by international travel restrictions, which has led to the scarcity of cargo flights. Most…

Read More