Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

#JUSTIN: Zim Records 4th COVID-19 Mortality

Michael Gwarisa

WEST End Hospital has been closed for non Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) related cases following a case which succumbed to the disease, thus making it a treatment isolation centre, Health and Child Care Minister  Dr Obadiah Moyo said on Wednesday. By Kudakwashe Pembere The deceased hailed from Mhondoro was admitted at West End Hospital with COVID-19 symptoms. I am aware of one of the cases that tested positive yesterday. Correctly so, this was someone who had been admitted and was still being seen actually at the casualty at West End Hospital.…

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Coca-Cola Donates US$100 000 To The Zim Red Cross To Fight Covid-19

Michael Gwarisa

SOFT beverages manufacturer, Coca-Cola Zimbabwe has donated an amount to the tune of US$100 000 to the Zimbabwe  Red Cross Society to help fight the spread of the corona virus in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa The support will be used to procure the much needed equipment such as rapid test kits and personal protective equipment. Presenting the donation, Coca-Cola Zimabwe Country Manager Mr Milidzani Ncube said In times like these, unity must prevail so as to win the fight against this monster that is threatening human existence. “ Today we…

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Avenues Clinic Sets Up COVID-19 Treatment Centre

Michael Gwarisa

MEDICAL Investment’s flagship company the Avenues Clinic, has opened Montagu Clinic as a COVID-19 management centre in a bid to boost the country’s capacity to deal with the pandemic that has raged havoc across the globe. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe currently has 25 confirmed cases of COVID-19 including three deaths. However, the country’s ability to handle a surge in COVID-19 infections has faced mixed feelings owing to the lack of adequately equipped COVID-19 management centres around the country. Speaking to HealthTimes, Avenues Clinic Corporate Communications officer, Mrs Cordelia Shereni said…

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US & Partners Warn Against Abuse of Journalists During COVID-19 Crisis

Michael Gwarisa

THE United State Government has issued a joint statement with various countries running under the moniker Groups of Friends on the Safety/Protection of Journalists have condemned the continued  abuse and maltreatment of Journalists in  their quest to report on developments around the obtaining COVID-19 pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa The other countries which signed the statement include Austria, France, Greece, Lithuania and Sweden as the chairs and co-chairs, respectively, of the Groups of Friends on the Safety of Journalists in New York, Geneva, Vienna (OSCE) and Paris. Since the COVID-19 was…

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Zim Experts Warn Of Rise In Unintended Pregnancies After Lockdown…Should Young People Adopt Long-term Contraceptives?

Michael Gwarisa

FAILURE by young women and girls to access modern contraceptives and reproductive health services during the lockdown could spell doom and possibly reverse the gains that have been attained in terms of reducing Early Unintended Pregnancies (EUPs). By Michael Gwarisa According to the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) 2015, sexually active unmarried women are more likely to have the highest risk of unintended pregnancy. This is because more than 70% of them are on short-acting contraceptives, condoms, and orals. Under a lockdown scenario as ours, supply can easily be disrupted…

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Stop TB Zim Applauds New TB Drug Dispensation Plan During Lockdown

Michael Gwarisa

THE Stop TB Partnership Zimbabwe has commended government for coming up with a specialized drug dispension protocol which allows Tuberculois (TB) patients are given 1-2 months supply of drugs for intensive and continuation phase respectively. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, Stop TB Partnership Zimbabwe said the lockdown which took effect on 30 March 2020 was a welcome development in the fight against of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are also thankful to the Ministry of Health and Child Care for developing new drug dispensing protocol for TB medicines to ensure…

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SADC and UNESCO sign agreement to ensure learning never stops

Michael Gwarisa

THE Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) have signed a Joint Statement and Action Plan on ensuring continuity of learning in the context of COVID-19. HealthTimes Reporter In a Joint Statement, signed by the Executive Secretary of SADC, Her Excellence Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax and the Regional Director and Representative for the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa Prof. Hubert Gijzen, the two Organisations are rallying development partners, international organizations, civil society organisations and private sector in a Broad Coalition…

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De-funding WHO Will Be Catastrophic- The Union Warns

Michael Gwarisa

THE International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) expressed its indignation at the decision by US President Trump to announce the suspension of its funding of the World Health Organization (WHO). The Union President,Professor Guy Marks said,“Undermining the WHO at a time when it is courageously leading the global coordination of the COVID-19 response is appalling public health policy. Infectious respiratory diseases know no borders and now is not the time to hinder global collaboration. The main game at present is to save lives, not to put them…

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#JUSTIN: Wrong Time To Cut WHO Funding-UN Boss Warns

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Mr Antonio Gutteres has warned the international community against pulling out financial resources from the World Health Organisation (WHO) at a time when the world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa The call comes hours after United States President, Donald Trump announced that the US would be suspending funding WHO operations for allegedly siding with the Chinese government instead of handling the situation in a manner that would have seen the virus not spreading to other parts of the globe. In…

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Mandatory SAZ Certification For Hand Sanitisers, Face Masks And All PPE Looms

Michael Gwarisa

THE Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) in collaboration with the government of Zimbabwe, are working on a new law that will make it compulsory for all producers of hand sanitisers, face masks, face shields and Protective Personal Clothing (PPE) to have their products certified before hitting the market. By Michael Gwarisa The move is set to improve products safety and trust among citizens amidst reports that some brands for examples Hand Sanitisers were endangering lives of users and in some cases highly flammable and damaging to the skin. In an…

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