Michael Gwarisa |

OPHID Intensifies Fight Against Double Burden of HIV & COVID-19 In Zimbabwe

April 28, 2020April 28, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE Organisation for Public Health Inventions and Development (OPHID) has ramped up efforts to combat the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Zimbabwe through provision of Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) as well as Antiretroviral Treatment drugs reshipments for those living with HIV inside COVID-19 isolation centres. By Michael Gwarisa OPHID is one of the three clinical partners that have been selected by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to implement CIVID-19 related interventions from the recent US$150 000 PEPFAR grant. OPHID has also set up satellite…

COVID-19 Pandemic Could Leave 47 Million Women Without Access To Contraceptives Says UNFPA

April 28, 2020April 28, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) a United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency has predicted a calamitous impact on women’s health as COVID-19 pandemic continues amidst indications that globally, more than 47 million women could lose access to contraception, leading to 7 million unintended pregnancies in the coming months. By Michael Gwarisa As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, the number of women unable to access family planning, facing unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence and other harmful practices could skyrocket by millions of cases in the months ahead, according to data…

SA Lockdown Leaves 1800 Zimbabweans Near Starvation

April 27, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

ABOUT 1800 Zimbabweans in South Africa are on the brink of starvation amidst the country’s lockdown meant to curb the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), a survey has found. By Kudakwashe Pembere The survey, an on-going was initiated by a South Africa based non-profit organisation Zimbabwe Exiles Forum seeks to assess the vulnerability of the respondents looking at whether they were sick, disabled, the number of children and their ages. The organisation has begun raising food aid funds for these Zimbabweans. Now since the beginning of the lockdown I…

#BREAKING: Zimbabwe Records Rural Transmissions Of Covid-19

April 27, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE Coronavirus (COVID-19) seem not to be respecter of boundaries or Geography. Zimbabwe has recorded two new cases of rural community transmission of COVID-19, both contacts to the late 82-year-old Gogo Nguni who died at a private health facility in Harare last week. By Michael Gwarisa The two new cases number 29 and 30 which were reported on Saturday, April 25 2020 were amongst the 65 samples that were collected from contacts to the late case number 27 (Gogo Nguni). According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC),…

Respecting The Dignity Of Disabled Persons During Pandemics…A Closer Look At UNESCO’S Interventions In The Zim COVID-19 Battle

April 27, 2020April 27, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

ACCORDING to the World Health Organisation (WHO), close to three million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded globally. To date, more than a hundred thousand deaths have also been reported on a global scale. As at 26 April 2020, Zimbabwe had recorded 31 COVID-19 cases including four deaths and two recoveries. By Michael Gwarisa As the world grapples with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, governments are absorbed with containing and minimising further spread of the virus. Various governments including Zimbabwe have instituted national Lockdowns as a precautionary measure against the…

Lafarge Targets To Produce 5000 Face Masks

April 26, 2020April 26, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE’S giant Cement producer, Lafarge Zimbabwe says it targets to produce not less than 5000 face masks as part of it contribution to the national COVID-19 crisis. By Michael Gwarisa Through their official Facebook page, Larfage said they had mobilised a group of young women to help in the making of the face masks. Lafarge Zimbabwe has mobilised a group of young women from among the Shine: Simuka Upenye beneficiaries to manufacture face masks as part of response to #COVID-19. With a target to manufacture five thousand masks, this project…

Maternal & Newborn Care In The time of COVID-19

April 24, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

MATERNAL health needs should be prioritized and safeguarded at all cost in the face of a pandemic, USAID maternal, newborn and child health program (MCHIP) Director, Dr Koki Agarwal has said. By Michael Gwarisa Dr Agarwal said despite the ongoing ravaging pandemic, maternal health needs have not gone away, instead they have increased. Now more than ever, the health needs of women must be safeguarded. In the three decades that I’ve worked to ensure high-quality, equitable health care for women and their children across the globe, this fact holds true: The…

TelOne/NetOne In Joint ZW$10 Million COVID-19 Support Facility

April 23, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

TELONE in collaboration with NetOne, have announced a joint COVID-19 response support facility to the tune of ZW$10million which is set to benefit three public hospitals namely Sally Mugabe (formerly Harare Hospital), Beatrice Infectious Diseases and Mpilo Hospitals. By Michael Gwarisa In a joint statement, TelOne Head of Corporate Communications Melody Harry and NetOne Public Relations Executive Elderette Shereni said the move was meant to strengthen existing public health institutions to deal with the COVID-19 as well as other epidemics post the COVID-19 phase. Specific areas being funded are both…

Security Forces To Collect COVID-19 Samples For Testing

April 22, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

SECURITY Forces have been roped in for collection of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) samples from patients in the high risk category. By Kudakwashe Pembere This is to achieve an ambitious target of 1000 tests a day as set by the COVID-19 Taskforce. Regarding achieving the 1000 tests a day, we have now come up with a strategy, the taskforce has implored that we get the services or the support services from the security services, they havemedical corps in the army, the Police and Prisons. “We have roped them in so they…

#JUSTIN: Zim Gvt Speaks On New School Calendar

April 22, 2020April 22, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

PERMANENT Secretary in the ministry of information, publicity and broadcasting services, Mr Nick Mangwana has advised that government is working on modalities to finalise a new school calendar for 2020 which has already been affected by the COVID-19 induced national Lockdown. By Michael Gwarisa Responding to questions during a webinar media training which was organised by UNDP, Higherlife Foundation, in partnership with the ministry of information, publicity and broadcasting services, Mr Mnagwana said the pandemic had affected schools in a big way. We still need to bring people to classes…