Michael Gwarisa |

#TalkingAllergies With Prof E. Sibanda: All You Need To Know About Seasonal Allergies

February 17, 2020February 17, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

DID you know that worldwide, the prevalence of allergic diseases are increasing especially in low and middle income countries, our Zimbabwe included. Not only are more allergies related cases being recorded but also the allergies are increasing in their complexity and severity especially in children and young adults. Allergic conditions range from life threatening asthma, food allergies, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, urticarial, eczema, eosinophilic disorders, including eosinophilic esophagitis, and drug and insect allergies. According to the World Allergies Organisation (WOA), globally, 300 million people suffer from asthma and about 200 to 250…

MedTours Africa Eyes Global Market

February 13, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

MEDICAL tourism firm, MedTours Africa has set its eyes on the global market at the back of a growing demand for their services in other regions. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes on the sidelines of the MedTours Africa 5th Anniversary celebrations in Harare, MedTours Executive Director, Dr Cheu Pswarayi said demand for medical tourism services was on the rise the world over and they intend to fill hat gap. We are going global, Medtours Africa is going global because what we have seen in the five years…

Private Sector Invited To Help End TB In Zimbabwe

February 12, 2020February 12, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE Stop TB Partnership in Zimbabwe has called on private sector and corporate players to join hands with government and other partners in combating Tuberculosis (TB) as the country works towards eliminating the disease by 2035. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at the Stop TB Partnership Breakfast meeting, Dr Joseph Mafurira from the department of AIDS and TB in the Ministry of health and child care said Zimbabwe’s goal of eliminating TB could only be achieved through collective effort from government and private sector. Our national TB control program vision is…

ZIMPHIA 2020 Could Leapfrog Zim Towards Ending AIDS By 2030

February 12, 2020March 6, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

FOR the first time, Gogo Mhlanga (75) of Filabusi in Matebeleland South is seeing the Zimbabwe Population Based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA 2020) survey banner. She wonders what it is all about and why it has been erected close to her homestead. By Michael Gwarisa A few minutes later, the ZIMPHIA 2020 Southern Region Survey Coordinator, Mrs Kudzanayi Moyo walks to her and explains what the message on the banner is saying and why the ZIMPHIA team is in the area. Her face lights up with joy and expresses gratitude…

Shortened DR TB Treatment Offers Ray Of Hope For TB Patients

February 11, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

A Study by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) shows long-term effectiveness for shortened DR-TB treatment regimen up to 24 months after treatment completion Results from a Union-led observational study (1) published in The Lancet’s EClinicalMedicine, show that a nine-month shortened treatment regimen for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) delivered to patients under programmatic conditions maintains a good level of effectiveness up to 24 months after completion. Until now there has been limited data on the long-term effectiveness of this treatment regimen after completion. The study reports on…

WFP Scales Up Post-Harvest Season Food Assistance

February 11, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE World Food Program (WFP) says it is already ramping up food aid for both rural and urban citizens beyond the harvest season amidst indications of an impending poor harvest at the back poor rains and a prolonged dry spell which characterised the early stages of the 2019-2020 agricultural season. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes on the side-lines of the handover of a US$200 000 food assistance facility for Tongoragara refugees, WFP Country Representative, Mr Eddie Rowe said they started preparing for the post-harvest period back in…

Floods Hit Binga, Families Trapped

February 11, 2020February 11, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

BINGA District, in Matabeleland North Province, Nsungwale Area under Chief Sinakoma has been hit by floods leaving several families stranded. HealthTimes Correspondent The flooding occurred where four rivers meet namely; Sibwambwa, Sikanda, Namapande and Manyenyengwa. “Due to the heavy backlash, all the 21 families in the flood plain are marooned and 11 others are being assisted to reach safer zones. The Rapid Assessment by the District Civil Protection Com-mittee indicates that there could be more people affected considering the general settlement patterns in Binga District. “As an immediate intervention; the…

Breaking: Zim Acquires Latest Coronavirus Testing Technology

February 10, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

REAGENTS and test kits for identifying the 2019 Wuhan Novel Coronavirus are now in country, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said on Monday. By Kudakwashe Pembere Previously, the country relied on South Africa to test for the 2019 n-CoV.Zimbabwe has the equipment required for this feat housed at the National Health Laboratory Services at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Mpilo Victoria Falls Airport. The reagents are in country, this is what we are saying. Besides that we are sourcing kits for the rapid testing which takes 15 minutes.…

Five Die In Byo, As Prophets Order Them To Stop Taking ARVs

February 10, 2020February 10, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

AT least five people died in Bulawayo in the period leading to the 2019 festive season following indications that they had discontinued taking Antiretroviral medications at their prophets’ orders, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Bulawayo The revelation came into the open when members of various HIV and AIDS support revealed that they stumbled upon stashes of Antiretroviral treatment drugs in the deceased’s’ rooms while some had publicly confessed that they had been ordered to stop taking their medications by their pastors and prophets. National Aids Council Bulawayo…

US$200 000 Food and Nutrition Boost For Tongogara Refugees

February 7, 2020February 7, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE Republic of Korea has donated an amount to the tune of US$200 000 to support critical food and nutrition needs for at least 14 000 refugees of Tongogara Refugee Camp (TRC). By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at the official handover ceremony of the financial facility, World Food Program (WFP) Country Representative Mr Eddie Rowe said the gesture by the Korean government would improve the daily food requirements of refugees at a time when the country was experiencing high demand for food assistance. Refugee populations around the world are one of…