Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

#BREAKING: Junior Doctors Finally Accept Masiyiwa’s Offer

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) has finally accepted the Higherlife Foundation mentorship offer, a move that is likely to bring some sanity to the health sector. By Michael Gwarisa In November last year at the height of the doctors strike as a result of incapacitation, the Foundation offered a ZWL100 Million, Training Fellowship for Junior and Senior Resident Medical Officers employed at Public Healthcare institutions of Zimbabwe. However most members from the ZHDA has spurned the offer saying government should come up with long lasting solution to their crisis.…

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#BREAKING: Doctors To Expand Emergency Services In Public Hospitals

Michael Gwarisa

SENIOR doctors have agreed to expand the emergency services mode in hospitals in a bid to ease the suffering masses. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, the Senior Doctors Association of Zimbabwe (SHDA) said the resolution was agreed on following a an exercise they carried out  early this year where they went through the hospitals together with hospital managers; to inspect and physically see the restocking that had been done as well as highlighting on the state of the hospital equipment in the central hospitals around the country. The exercise…

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Smoking greatly increases risk of complications after surgery

Michael Gwarisa

TOBACCO smokers are at significantly higher risk than non-smokers for post-surgical complications including impaired heart and lung functions, infections and delayed or impaired wound healing. HealthTimes Reporter But new evidence reveals that smokers who quit approximately 4 weeks or more before surgery have a lower risk of complication and better results 6 months afterwards. Patients who quit smoking tobacco are less likely to experience complications with anesthesia when compared to regular smokers. A new joint study by the World Health Organization (WHO), the University of Newcastle, Australia and the World…

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Women Now Using Tobacco To Shrink Their Private Parts

Michael Gwarisa

WOMEN are now applying tobacco powder and other tobacco related products on their private parts in the belief that it shrinks their genitals, increase sexual pleasure and raises the odds of getting pregnant. By Michael Gwarisa The practice of applying tobacco to the lady parts is now popular in most West African countries and has also spread to other African countries including Zimbabwe. Tobacco or “miracle recipe” as it is now called in West African countries “increases sexual pleasure tenfold” or “sends a man into the seventh heaven” and this…

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Desperate Zimbos Turn To Crowd Funding For Healthcare Financing

Michael Gwarisa

IN a country where medical aid coverage is less than 10 percent, ordinary Zimbabweans who can’t afford medical aid cover and health insurance have found solace in crowd funding initiatives for critical surgeries and treatment for complicated ailments. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Association of Healthcare Funders Zimbabwe (AHFoZ), medical aid coverage has dropped from a high of 10 percent in 2018 to the current  9 percent, making it untenable for majority of Zimbabweans whose life savings and hard earned cash has turned into manure since August 2018 at…

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Don’t Be Fooled, We Are Not Back At Work Says Doctors

Michael Gwarisa

DOCTORS under the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) banner who downed tools four months ago citing incapacitation are yet to resume work despite their rival faction, the Progressive Doctors Association of Zimbabwe (PDAZ) having communicated that 450 have returned to work. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, the ZHDA said government had not shown any poltical will to resolve the impasse hence the doctors remain incapacitated to return to work and would if government heeds their call. “The situation in our hospitals remains critical. What is only remaining are buildings…

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Gvt Urged To Make Realistic Commitments Towards Improving Nutrition Standards

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Civil Society Organisations Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance (ZCSOSUNA), has challenged government to make realistic and attainable nutrition targets ahead of the forthcoming 2020 Japan Nutrition for Growth summit. By Michael Gwarisa Addressing Journalists this morning, ZCSOSUNA Projects Officer, Kudzai Chavhunduka said government should take the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit  to be held in December  as a historic opportunity to transform the way the world tackles the global challenge of malnutrition. As the country’s Civil Society Alliance in Scaling Up Nutrition, we applaud the government of Zimbabwe for…

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Top Global Pharmaceutical Firms Pledge Quality Healthcare For 1.7 Million Africans

Michael Gwarisa

JOHNSON &JOHNSON together with other major global pharmaceutical players have joined hands with Last Mile Health and Living Goods to increase access to healthcare to community based primary healthcare for nearly 1.7 million people in not less than six African countries. HealthTimes Repoter The other firms include  Lilly, Novartis (Novartis.com), Pfizer (Pfizer.com), GSK (GSK.com) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (GatesFoundation.org) and the pledge is part of their shared commitment to accelerate universal health coverage. The Health Worker Training Initiative is a three-year investment, generously matched by The Audacious…

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Boreholes Now HIV and Pregnancies Traps For Young Girls

Michael Gwarisa
Picture From Nehanda Radio

THE prevailing water crisis in Harare and other parts of the country exposes girls and young women to HIV infections and early unintended pregnancies (EUPs) owing to the lengthy hours they spend in long winding queues and boreholes where they end up fraternising with individuals who harbor evil intentions. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at the launch of the Harare Zimbabwe Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA), Harare province acting provincial development coordinator Mrs Catherine Kampila said the water crisis in Harare had created a fertile breeding ground for risky sexual behaviour…

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Frequently Asked Questions About The ZIMPHIA Door To Door Survey

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE in November 2019 joined other five African countries in conducting the ongoing six months long door to door HIV survey dubbed the: “Zimbabwe Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA).” The survey ending in March is being funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), with technical assistance from the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The survey will be led by Government working in conjunction with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), National AIDS Council (NAC) and ICAP at Columbia University. To unpack as well…

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