Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Why Decriminalising HIV Transmission is The Way To Go For Zim

Michael Gwarisa

OVER the past few months, there has been talk around the subject of decriminalising HIV transmission. The minister of Justice, Honorable Ziyambi Ziyambi told Parliament that government was planning to decriminalise wilful transmission of HIV following the gazetting of the Marriage Bill. By Michael Gwarisa Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which include the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Katswe Sisterhood, Zimbabwe Aids Network (ZAN), Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) among others have been advocating for the repealing of Section 79 of the Criminal law which criminalises…

Read More

Docs & Nurses On A Mission To Conduct Medical Outreach In Stapleford

Michael Gwarisa

THE Doctors and Nurses on a Mission organisation says it will be conducting a medical outreach in Stapleford in a bid to provide free healthcare services to the vulnerable groups of society. The doctors and nurses on a mission project is a project under the healthcare department of Angels Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to assist orphans and vulnerable children’ children and people living and working on the streets, people living with disabilities and the elderly people in society. The project was launched in October 2018 and has conducted…

Read More

African & Asian Parliamentarians Meeting Sets Tone For ICPD Conference

Michael Gwarisa

THE African and Asian Parliamentarians meeting on Populations and Development for ICPD+25 which was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania has set the tone for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) to be held in Narobi, Kenya. By Michael Gwarisa The conference which was held from 5 to 6 August 2019 served as a platform to gather the opinions and set of proposed actions of parliamentarians in the Asia and Africa regions. Osamu Kusumoto, the Executive Director and Secretary General  for Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) said…

Read More

WHO Urges Gvts To Prioritize Health Workers

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti has urged governments in SADC region to prioritize welfare and well-being of health personnel as they are the backbone of the health sector. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at the 69th session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for Africa, Ministerial gathering to shape Africa’s Health Agenda in Brazzaville, Dr Matsidiso said, “health workers were a precious resource not only to their families, but to communities, to national development and to international security and we must do more to protect…

Read More

New Digital Health Technology To Help Manage Chronic Ailments

Michael Gwarisa

A local software company has launched a new digital health technology that offers an opportunity for patients to become more involved and engaged when it comes to their health and to manage chronic conditions. SOURCE: The Herald Relay Africa, a local technology firm, launched the Kaadi system as part of its efforts to build modern technologies that could be integrated into the country’s healthcare sector to improve service delivery. Tinashe Manyame, head of Relay Africa, told The Herald recently that the new software — Kaadi — aims to digitise medical records and…

Read More

DRC Battling Deadliest Measles Outbreak

Michael Gwarisa

THE Democratic Republic Of Congo (DRC) is fighting what could described as the deadliest measles outbreak, the worst since the 2011/2012 outbreak. By Michael Gwarisa The outbreak comes in the midst of an equally deadly health crisis in the form of Ebola which has claimed hundreds of lives since last year. Karel Janssens, Head of Mission of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the DRC said there was need to scale up assistance efforts in affected regions. While a rapid and adapted response is critical to limiting the impact of measles…

Read More

New coalition Commit To Fight Neglected Tropical Diseases across Africa

Michael Gwarisa

AFRICAN Media Agency (AMA)/-  Civil society organisations (CSOs) have joined together in Dakar, Senegal, to create Africa’s first civil society network for Neglected Tropical Diseases – the Civil Society Says No to NTDs Coalition. This coalition will provide a network for CSOs to consult and collaborate to maximise their efforts in fighting Neglected Tropical Diseases, particularly around their aim of increasing sustainable funding for NTD control programs. The new civil society coalition was formed to enable member CSOs to take NTD control and elimination into their own hands to save…

Read More

Winnie Byanyima Appointed New UNAIDS Executive Director

Michael Gwarisa

UNAIDS has appointed  Winnie Byanyima as its new Executive Director. Ms Byanyima has more than 30 years of experience in political leadership, diplomacy and humanitarian engagement. Speaking on her appointment, Ms Byanyima said, “I am honoured to be joining UNAIDS as the Executive Director at such a critical time in the response to HIV,” said Ms Byanyima. The end of AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is a goal that is within the world’s reach, but I do not underestimate the scale of the challenge ahead. Working with…

Read More

Crippling Doctors Strike Looms

Michael Gwarisa

DOCTORS have warned government to review their earnings according to the prevailing interbank market rate which is pegged at 8.7% or risk another industrial action which could cripple the health sector. By Michael Gwarisa This comes at the back of erosion of doctors and civil servants salaries by inflation which is currently hovering above 176% according to June inflation rates. In a letter written to the Health Services Board (HSB) by Dr Peter Magombeyi on behalf  the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), he indicated that doctors were now incapacitated and…

Read More

RETZ Trains Nutrition Citizen Journalists In Bindura

Michael Gwarisa

THE Rural Enterprise Trust of Zimbabwe (RETZ) has commenced training of young nutrition citizen Journalists in Bindura to improve reportage of nutrition related developments and challenges affecting the Bindura district. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Bindura The team of nutrition Journalists will be made up of children of high school going age from the district’s 15 wards as well as young farmers from rural and peri-urban Bindura. Speaking during the training which was graced by junior parliamentarians and young famers in Bindura, Media consultant and Media Studies Lecturer, Dr Jasper…

Read More