Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

2019 Top 10 Health Champions

Michael Gwarisa

IT’S that time of the year once again where we appreciate and honour those who sacrificed their time, resources and life to the good cause of advancing quality health services in various communities around the country. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s health sector is currently in the doldrums and only a miracle of double proportion can resurrect this ailing industry. The year 2019 was characterised by massive job actions by health personnel, lack of sundries and hospital equipment to mention just a few challenges. However, despite these challenges, some individuals remained…

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HIV TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN TO BE PRODUCED FOR ONE DOLLAR A DAY

Michael Gwarisa

INDIAN pharmaceutical company Cipla has announced their commitment to price the ground-breaking new product Quadrimune, a “4‑in‑1” treatment for young children with HIV, at below a dollar a day. Quadrimune is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in children between 3 and 25 kg bodyweight. This pleasant tasting, heat-stable fixed-dose combination of four antiretrovirals (ARVs) for infants and young children with HIV was developed in partnership by Cipla and the not-for-profit Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) with financial support from Unitaid and…

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NBSZ Assists Cyclone Idai Schools

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Blood Service Zimbabwe has donated dignity kits and stationery to at least six schools that were affected by Cyclone Idai in March this year. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Mutare The donation is valued at RTGS$169 425.35 and is set to benefit at the six schools which also used to be NBSZ major collection panels. These are Biriri High School, Chimanimani High School, Ndima High School, Nyahode High School, Risutu High School and St Charles Luwanga. NBSZ  Public Affairs Manager Esther Massundah said they will continue to provide…

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Child Adoption On The Rise In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWEANS seem to be embracing the concept of adoption as  a form of parenting following rigorous awareness campaigns by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to demystify misconceptions surrounding the practice. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Mutare Presenting at the REPSSI organised Journalists Orientation workshop on Child reporting in Mutare, Child Protection Officer in the Ministry of Social Welfare, Mrs Patience Nhire said the Zimbabwean society was slowly moving away from traditional negative beliefs against adoption. In the past, adoption used to be taboo in Zimbabwe as a result…

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CSOs Website & Database Launched In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

A Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Website and Database has been launched in Zimbabwe with the view of boosting communities support health systems and expand reach to thigh risk vulnerable HIV and AIDS affected communities. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe AIDS Network (ZAN) National Coordinator, Mr Taurai Nyandoro said the evolution of the HIV epidemic is changing the landscape of HIV the response hence the need for a modern day systemes that guides and tracks trends in the HIV treatment, care and prevention matrix. They are operating in a changing landscape and…

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NBSZ Clears Air On Blood User Fees

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Blood Services of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has assured citizens that blood and blood products are still free in all public health institutions. By Michael Gwarisa The call follows a  blood price list which is making  rounds on social media suggesting that the blood blank has increased blood user fees in all health institutions. In a statement, NBSZ Public Affairs manager, Ms Esther Massundah said the National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ)  made an adjustment to the user fees of blood using the interbank rate which will see a unit of…

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Dr Moyo Appeals For Foreign Currency Allocation To Procure ARVs

Michael Gwarisa

HEALTH and Child Care minister, Dr Obhadia Moyo has made a call to treasury to at least grant the National Aids Council (NAC) a preferential interbank rate which allows them to access foreign currency in bulk in order to facilitate procurement of life saving Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) drugs. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Masvingo Dr Moyo made the plea at the 2019 World Aids Day (WAD) commemorations at Mucheke stadium in Masvingo. Officiating at the event, Dr Moyo bemoaned the absence of adequate foreign currency to purchase drugs from foreign…

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US Government Injects US$163 Mln To Fight HIV In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa
HASTINGS

THE United States Government (USG) through the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2019 contributed an amount to the tune of US$163 million to scale up HIV interventions in Zimbabwe’s communities. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Masvingo Speaking at the 2019 World Aids Day (WAD) commemorations in Masvingo, the US Deputy Chief of Mission in Zimbabwe, Mr Thomas Hastings said communities needed to be capacitated to fight the HIV scourge at grassroots level. We have come a long as a partnership between the people of Zimbabwe and the…

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Chinhoyi One Stop Centre For GBV Survivors Launched

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has launched the One Stop center for  survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Chinhoyi in an effort to improve access to services for survivors of Gender Based Violence By Michael Gwarisa The GBV One-stop centre is part of the Zero Tolerance for GBV 365 National programme and has been birthed from a partnership between the UNFPA, the governments of Britain, Ireland, Sweden and the European Unione (EU) through support from the ministry of Gender and Community development. Speaking at the launch, UNFPA country…

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Senior Doctors Summoned For Disciplinary Hearings

Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT has summoned at least 57 senior doctors who downed tools yesterday demanding the reinstatement of the 488 junior doctors who have been fired by government to date. By Michael Gwarisa Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) president Dr Shingai Nyaguse told HealthTimes this morning that government was not acting in good faith but was instead pursuing retribution. Instead of addressing our concerns, they have summoned senior doctors to disciplinary hearings instead. It is unfortunate that they have focused on the punitive disciplinary measures and have done nothing to address the…

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