Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Mass Drug Administration Boosts Health Outcomes and School Attendance For Zimbabwe School Children

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Nyazura  Children at St Peters Tokoyo primary school, about 25 Kilometers from Nyazura Growth point in Makoni District, Manicaland province, have braced the chilly weather to queue for the Bilharzia and Intestinal worms medications being administered under the nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) program. At Tokoyo Primary school and the nearby clinic, health workers from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) are administering Praziquantel, treatment for Schistosomiasis or Bilharzia. According to a 2021 Community-Based Mapping, Makoni District has an double endemicity of  Schistosomiasis and…

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Tafadzwa Bandama Appointed ZIMSTAT Substantive Director

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency is the statistics agency (Zimstat) has announced the appointment of Mrs Tafadzwa Bandama the substantive director in line with lawas of the country. Making the announcement, the Zimstat Board Chairmanm, Mr John Mafaririkwa said the appointment was effective immediately. The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency Board of Directors, in accordance with Section 9 of the Census and Statistics Act, [Cap 10:29] and Section 17 of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act, [Cap 10:31 ], is pleased to announce the  appointment of Mrs. Tafadzwa…

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Sierra Leone Nurses Empowered With Nurse Anaesthesia Diploma Programme

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter In a groundbreaking partnership to address the critical shortage of anesthesia providers in the country Mercy Ships (www.MercyShips.org), Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, and the University of Sierra Leone have launched a Nurse Anesthesia Diploma Programme. This initiative aims to improve surgical care capacity by training specialized nurse anesthetists, ensuring lasting healthcare improvements even after Mercy Ships the port of Freetown. Suzanne Thomas, Mercy Ships Director of Education, Training, and Advocacy emphasized the importance of this collaboration: “Our partnership with the Ministry of Health and the University…

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Manicaland Targets Over 200 Wards In Mass Drug Administration For Bilharzia and Intestinal Worms

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare An estimated 85 percent of coverage is targeted by the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) and Soil-transmitted helminthiases (Intestinal Worms) underway in Manicaland province. The MDA which has kicked off in several districts across the country is running from 14 to 21 October 2024 and is targeting children aged 2 to 14 years in selected areas. Data from a 2021 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Community-Based Mapping exercise conducted by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) shows that approximately 252 wards in…

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#Breaking: Zimbabwe Records Two Mpox Cases

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Health and Child Care Minister,  Dr Douglas Mombeshora has announced that two cases of Mpox have been recorded in Zimbabwe. Briefing Journalists in the capital, Harare  Dr Mombeshora said the two cases are in currently in isolation. The Ministry of Health and Child Care wishes to inform the nation that Zimbabwe now has two (2) confirmed cases of Mpox: one in Harare and another in Mberengwa. Both cases are in isolation at home, and are receiving appropriate care,” said Dr Mombeshora. He added that both cases are…

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Urgent action needed to accelerate mental health progress in African region

Michael Gwarisa

The African region has made progress over the past decade to strengthen mental health systems, including investments to improve care, health workforce as well as national policies to steer the delivery of vital services. However, the pace of the progress is slow and further efforts are needed to address mental health challenges and ensure well-being. Notable advancements in the region include a 14% improvement in the ratio of mental health specialists to population in the six years to 2020, as well as the introduction of mental health care training for…

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Mercy Ships and West African College of Surgeons Collaborate to Elevate Surgical and Anesthesia Training in Africa

Michael Gwarisa

By Own Correspondent In a landmark collaboration, the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) has granted an accreditation to Mercy Ships’ (www.MercyShips.org) surgical and anesthesia training programmes. This partnership reflects the shared commitment of both organizations towards advancing medical education in the region, offering medical trainees unparalleled opportunities to gain specialized qualifications through their experience aboard the international charity’s hospital vessels. The clinical and scholarly endorsement from WACS has been celebrated by Mercy Ships as a huge milestone in continuing to deliver of the organization’s Education Training and Advocacy (ETA)…

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Zimbabwe Amongst African Countries With Growing Disabling Hearing Loss Burden

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization (WHO) has projected an increasing burden in disabling hearing loss in Africa at the back limited capacity to handle hearing loss ailments, an ill-equipped workforce amongst a host of other factors. Data from 43 African countries show that while 36 countries provide EHC services at the tertiary level, similar services are not offered at primary care level. This is despite the fact that the common causes of hearing loss are mostly preventable through simple public health interventions, or measures to mitigate the risk…

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3-Month Dapivirine Vaginal Ring for HIV Prevention Demonstrates Superior Drug Release Compared to 1-Month Ring

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter Lima, Peru – The Population Council, an international nonprofit research organization, announced today at HIVR4P 2024, the 5th HIV Research for Prevention Conference, the results of a phase I open-label randomized crossover relative bioavailability trial (IPM 054). The trial found that a 3-month dapivirine vaginal ring delivers the active antiretroviral drug, dapivirine, at higher levels than the 1-month dapivirine vaginal ring. The trial, conducted among   124 women in South Africa, suggests that the longer-acting ring will be as effective as the 1-month ring, offering a more cost…

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WHO approves first mpox diagnostic test for emergency use, boosting global access

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the first mpox in vitro diagnostic (IVD) under its Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure, an important step in improving global access to mpox testing. The approval for emergency use of the Alinity m MPXV assay, manufactured by Abbott Molecular Inc., will be pivotal in expanding diagnostic capacity in countries facing mpox outbreaks, where the need for quick and accurate testing has risen sharply. Early diagnosis of mpox enables timely treatment and care, and control of the virus. Limited testing capacity…

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