Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Zimbabwe International Women’s Day Commemorations Puts A spotlight On Investing In Women

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Shurugwi Women and girls in Zimbabwe bear the biggest brunt of climate change, and economic challenges amongst other vices, hence the need for increased investment in women across all economic spheres. The call was made by various stakeholders who attended the International Women’s Day Commemorations 2024 Commemorations at Chitora Primary School in Shurugwi. This also comes amid an Elnino-induced climate crisis whereby various districts across the country are facing a serious drought. Officiating at the International Women’s Day celebrations, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and…

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Op-ed for International Women’s Day: “Inspire Inclusion: Combating HIV, Advancing Rights”

Michael Gwarisa

By Jane KALWEO The world is significantly off course in meeting the gender targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the current pace, it will take an estimated 300 years to eradicate child marriage, 140 years to achieve equal representation of women in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47 years to attain equal representation in national parliaments. As of December 2023, women’s representation in Zimbabwe’s Parliament stood at 34%, falling short of global targets on gender parity in legislative bodies. However, evidence has shown…

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Student Resource Centre Bridges SRH Unmet Need and Information Gaps for MSU Students

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa It’s around 12 midday, Audrey Katsande (22), and her friend Mitchell Munjoma (21) are chilling in the Girls’ Space inside the Student Resource Centre at the Midlands State University (MSU). It’s a time to cool off after a long morning of lectures and college work. University life can be difficult for students at times, and MSU students are no exception. Being a multi-campus college with an estimated student enrollment above 18000 students, the MSU is faced with unique challenges. Its accommodation facility caters only for less than…

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More than Half of Zimbabwe’s population could be Obese by 2035

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Despite having a small population of 15.99 million according to the 2022 National Population and Housing Census Data, Zimbabwe’s obesity levels could soon engulf more than half of its population amidst indications of an increase in the prevalence of early disability and death due to obesity. Recent data from the annual World Obesity Atlas shows that 79% of adults with overweight and obesity will live in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) by 2035 while 88% of children with overweight and obesity will be living in LMICs by…

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Zimbabwe Advised To Adopt Annual Covid-19 Vaccination That Covers New Strains For High Risk Groups Amid Waning Vaccine Effectiveness

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Data from a new study that sought to examine vaccine effectiveness in light of circulating Coronavirus variants following vaccination, has shown that the effectiveness of vaccines that were widely administered in Zimbabwe between 2021 and 2022 has weakened against emerging COVID-19 variants. The study dubbed COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and SARS CoV-2 variants in Zimbabwe: Test Negative Case-Control study, Genetic sequencing and Serology (ZIMCoVVAR) was a test-negative case-control study to evaluate the effectiveness of inactivated vaccines and was conducted from November 2022 to October 2023. The study did…

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Zimbabwe Kicks Off Women’s Month with Launch of Every Stage of Woman Campaign

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Minister of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Department, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa yesterday presided over the launch of Women’s Month which also coincided with the Every Stage of Woman Campaign, a programme that focuses on the reproductive stages of the woman from menstruation to menopause, from adolescents to menopause. The Every Stage of Woman” Campaign is a Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ) program being supported by the Embassy of Sweden in commemoration of the 2024 International Women’s Day commemoration running under the theme; “Invest in Women: Accelerate…

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Soil Health In The Spotlight At United Nations Environmental Assembly

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa World environmental policymakers have gathered in Nairobi (Kenya) for the UN Environment Assembly, held every two years to set the global environmental agenda to deliberate on the the « triple planetary crisis » of climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and land degradation. The conference is chaired by Morocco, and OCP Group (the world’s leading soil and plant nutrition solutions producer) has had a high profile in championing the crucial role of soil health, particularly in Africa, in addressing these issues. From the current 8bn, there will be…

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Zimbabwe Launches Women at the Center Project To Ease GBV Case Management and Referral Pathways

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Government of  Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Women Affairs Community, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), have launched the Women at the Centre Project that focuses on providing increased support to survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) through quality case management. Japanese Pharmaceutical Company Takeda is supporting the project and its being implemented over four years.  Zimbabwe is one of five countries that are part of this project. The other countries are Indonesia, El Salvador, Azerbaijan and…

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Dolutegravir ARV Drug Linked To Spike In Obesity and Hypertension In Zimbabwe’s People Living With HIV-New Study

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Significant weight gain and a high incidence of Hypertension cases have been picked among Zimbabweans Living with HIV who switched to Dolutegravir (DTG), based, efavirenz (EFV)-based and ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (ATV/r)-based Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Zimbabwe. A longitudinal study conducted by Zimbabwe’s renowned Clinical Scientist and Laboratory expert, Tinei Shmu et al which sought to explore  “Body weight and blood pressure changes on dolutegravir-, efavirenz- or atazanavir-based antiretroviral therapy in Zimbabwe” gathered that the Zimbabwe’s HIV response now faces an increased burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The study…

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Facts About Vaccine Derived-Polio Virus Circulating In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In November 2023, Zimbabwe’s environmental surveillance system picked a vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV) strain, circulating in the sewage system in Harare’s high density suburbs namely Budiriro, Mbare and Mufakose.  A similar variant was detected in a 10-year-old child from Sanyati District in Mashonaland, West Province. The child has since developed paralysis following the Polio infection. Two other children in Mbare have had the same strain detected in them despite the absence of paralysis developing in either of them. Over the past few days, the Ministry of…

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