Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Hospital User Fees Go Up

Michael Gwarisa

PERMANENT Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Agness Mahomva has announced the new government hospital tariffs effective January 1, 2020. By Michael Gwarisa The move comes at the back of run away inflation which has eroded the local currency’s value, making it impossible for government to procure hospital sundries and equipment as well as sustain operations. In a statement, Dr Mahomva said the move was reached after taking into consideration the plight of the general populace, as well as the inflationary environment currently prevailing. “The…

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Gvt Announces Nurses Interview Dates

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care  announced the interview dates for the January 2020 Intake for all shortlisted candidates. Interviews will be conducted on 2 and 3 January 2020 at two interview centers which are Parirenyatwa Adlam House and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) School of Nursing. Time: 0730 hours Invited candidates to bring the following: • Original O-level and A-level certificates (no result slips,) • Birth certificate, • Identification card • Marriage certificate where applicable. Please note: 1. Candidates shortlisted for interviews at Parirenyatwa Adlam House are for Harare…

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Zimbabweans Now living longer Says WHO

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE is experiencing a shift in its population dynamics amidst indications that the proportion of older persons in Zimbabwe is on the increase, a situation which  calls for more focused and sustained investments into their health, a  top World Health Organisation (WHO) official has said. By Michael Gwarisa In an exclusive interview with HealthTimes, World Health Organization (WHO) Zimbabwe National Programs Officer for Family and Reproductive Health, Dr Trevor Kanyowa said life expectancy has continually risen and is currently estimated at an average of 61 years compared to an average…

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Extreme Mulnutrition Stalks Low &Middle Income Countries

Michael Gwarisa

A four year-paper report published in The Lancet reveals that there is increasing undernutrition and obesity in low and middle income countries owing to rapid changes in countries’ food systems. According to the report, more than a third of such countries had overlapping forms of malnutrition (45 of 123 countries in the 1990s, and 48 of 126 countries in the 2010s), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia, and east Asia and the Pacific. Undernutrition and obesity can lead to effects across generations as both maternal undernutrition and obesity are associated…

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The Union Endorses New WHO DRTB Treatment Recommendations

Michael Gwarisa

THE Union  against Tuberculosis (TB) and lung infection says it welcomes the rapid communication from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). The WHO rapid communication document, issued on 11 December, is based on new evidence shared by the South African TB Programme, as well as research and technical partners including The Union. It recommends improving access to new regimens and prioritising an effective all-oral short treatment regimen, replacing the injectable drugs with bedaquiline for people with multidrug and rifampicin-resistant TB. It also highlights the…

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Avenues Clinic To Spend US$8 million On Renovations

Michael Gwarisa

AN amount to the tune of plus or minus US$8 million is earmarked for the total refurbishment of  Avenues Clinic as the institution aims to increase its ability to handle complex health situations. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview on the sidelines of the Health Brief at Avenues Clinic, the Clinic’s Chief Officer, Mr Searchmore Chaparadza said under the Medical Investments Limited (MIL) which is an grouping of medical facilities whose flagship is the avenues clinic, innovations are happening in all the areas. To date, what we have done are…

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Speakout Campaign Against GBV Launched in Epworth

Michael Gwarisa

A  campaign to eliminate  Gender Based Violence (GBV) at community level was today (11/12/19) launched in Epworth, Harare amidst indications that government and partners are in the process of setting up a One-Stop Centre for GBV survivors in the same area. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at the launch of the Speakout: No Longer Silent Campaign in Epworth, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprise Development Provincial Development Officer Mr Ernest Chimbodza said the only way communities can end GBV is by uniting and exposing acts of Sexual Gender…

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Fake Malaria Drugs Kill 158,000 Yearly In Africa

Michael Gwarisa

A recent study indicates that at least 158,000 people die as a result of fake malaria drugs in Sub-Saharan Africa every year owing to  lack of a response mechanisms seen in other parts of the world, including supply chain regulation, track-and-trace technology and enforcement regimes. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 42% of detected cases of substandard or falsified pharmaceuticals occurred in Africa. Research findings from a study by the European Union-funded ENACT project on the threat of counterfeight drugs in Africa indicate that Globalisation has made it harder…

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Mberengwa Cries For Help…Battles High ARVs Coverage Gap

Michael Gwarisa

AT a time when other districts are doing well in terms of advancing treatment and care to Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) clients, Mberengwa remains in the negative despite efforts by partners and the ministry of health and child care to advance treatment to the area. Mberengwa has a low ART coverage of 44, 5 percent as of last year, making it one the districts with the highest ART  gap (3,000 – 10,000) along with 19 other districts which include Zvimba, Gokwe, Chipinge, Bulawayo, Goromonzi, Insiza, Umguza, Kwekwe, Mt Darwin, Lupane, Mazowe,…

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