Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Medical Solutions Donates Face Shields To Harare and Bulawayo City Councils

Michael Gwarisa

RECENTLY Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) certified medical equipment manufacturer, Medical Solutions Zimbabwe has donated a total of 200 face shields towards the Zimbabwe COVID-19 battle. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes soon after the handover event, Medical Solutions Director, Shepard Chakanza said the 200 face shields would be distributed evenly between the Harare and Bulawayo City councils health departments to advance the fight against the raging COVID-19 pandemic. We went to Wilkins  after we were told by the City of Harare to go and make a donation…

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Zim Women Ready To Embrace Donor Breast Milk For Infant Feeding- Study

Michael Gwarisa

A new study conducted by a group of Zimbabwean nutritionists has gathered that Zimbabwean working class women would prefer substituting breast feeding with breast milk from donors as compared to formulas. By Michael Gwarisa The study  titled “Acceptability of donor breastmilk banking among health workers: a cross-sectional survey in Zimbabwean urban settings,” was conducted by a team of seven nutritionists namely Dexter Chagwena, Felistas Mugariri, Steady Mataga, Ruvimbo Danda, Tonderayi Matsungo and Charles Maponga. The concept of donor human milk banking was acceptable among health workers. One-third (31%) of the…

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COVID-19 Could Expose Girls & Young Women To Sexual Violence & Exploitation Warns Plan International Zim

Michael Gwarisa

PLAN International Zimbabwe has warned of an upsurge in sexual violence and deprivation of economic and social opportunities for girls and young women at the back of the prevailing COVID-19 which has already disrupted livelihoods. By Michael Gwarisa In Zimbabwe, the COVID 19 pandemic has emerged at a time when the national public health system, economic environment is extremely fragile, and the country is still recovering from the effects of Cyclone Idai disaster which hit the country in 2019. In an interview with HealthTimes, Plan International Zimbabwe Sexual Reproductive Health…

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COVID-19 and clinical distancing

Michael Gwarisa

THE International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) has today described the development of two novel devices, a negative pressure procedural tent and a portable helmet device, as having the potential to protect healthcare workers and transform the care of COVID-19 patients across the globe. The devices were developed by a team of engineering and medical staff at the University of Michigan. Both devices create a negative pressure environment for the wearer, which is essential for severely ill COVID-19 patients as a negative pressure environment prevents the infected…

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I Am Ready For The Task Says New NAC Chief Executive Officer

Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT recently appointed Dr Bernard Madzima as the National Aids Council’s (NAC) new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after the organisation had gone for a year and three months  without anyone at its helm. Before his appointment, Dr Madzima served as Director in the Family Health department under the ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) for eight years, where he coordinated the country’s sexual and reproductive health, the family planning, as well as the cervical cancer programs. To ensure the organisation moves forward, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah…

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#BREAKING: Dr Mahomva Appointed COVID-19 Response Chief Coordinator…Gvt To Appoint New Perm Sec

Michael Gwarisa

PRESIDENT Emerson Mnangagwa has redeployed Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) permanent secretary, Dr Agnes Mahomva to the newly formed post of Chief Coordinator to the National Response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the office of the President and cabinet. By Michael Gwarisa In a press statement, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda said Dr Mahomva’s appointment was in line with section 203 (1) (a) of the constitution of Zimbabwe amendment number (20) Act 2013. This post has been created after due consideration of the…

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#COVID-19: Zim Should Adopt SMART Lockdown Model- Health Policy Expert Warns

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE should desist from copying and pasting other countries’ COVID-19 containment measures and adopt a SMART lockdown model peculiar to the country’s health and economic demands, a top health policy expert has warned. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe instituted its initial lockdown on March 30, 2020 before extending it by another two weeks. President Emmerson Mnangagwa also extended the lockdown by another 14 days  which will be ending in a few days’ time though under much relaxed conditions. However, Zimbabwe has in the past few weeks been accused of replicating South…

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#JUSTIN:Nurses Protest Flexi-Hours Removal, Threaten Strike

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA), has shot down government’s decision to scrap the flexible working hours arrangement during the COVID-19 induced lockdown period citing worsened incapacitation amongst a  host of other woes. By Michael Gwarisa The flexi-hours system was implemented early this year to cushion nurses who had gone on a strike owing to poor wages and high costs of living. In a recent letter addressed some public health institutions, all members of staff were immediately required to return to work and resume normal duties. According to government, the flexi…

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#BREAKING: Zim Sitting On A Post COVID-19 Mental Health Time Bomb

Michael Gwarisa
DEPRESSED AFRICAN LADY (pic by Huffington post)

MENTAL health expert and Psychologist, Dr Kudakwashe Muchena has warned of a serious mental health crisis post the COVID-19 induced lockdown at the back of economic and social uncertainties that have been brought about by the prevailing COVID-19 health crisis. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Muchena said Zimbabwe had already been experiencing high suicide and mental health cases before the COVID-19 struck and the prevailing health crisis would likely worsen an already fragile mental health environment. We are sitting on a time-bomb, whilst all the focus…

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#COVID-19: Zim Cargo Truck Drivers Demand Risk Allowance and Health Insurance From Gvt

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Union of Transport Workers of Zimbabwe (NUTWZ) has written to government demanding payment of risk allowances and the setting up of  a special health insurance arrangement for truck drivers ferrying cargo to and from Zimbabwe during the COVID-19 induced national Lockdown period. By Michael Gwarisa In a letter addressed to the The Chairperson Covid19 Taskforce in the Office Of The President and Cabinet, NUTWZ, Mr N Gwande said even though the  union appreciates the unenviable work being done by the taskforce to manage the covid19 virus, there was…

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