Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

WHO Calls For Urgent Action As 400 Cholera Patients Are Hospitalized In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa World Health Organisation in Zimbabwe (WHO Zimbabwe) representative, Professor Jean-Marie Dangou has warned that a business-as-usual approach is detrimental to the prevailing Cholera situation in Zimbabwe. His call follows a recent surge in new Cholera infections and hospitalisations which could bring the healthcare sector to its knees should the situation continue for a few more weeks as 60 districts have reported cases so far in the country. Through his Micro-Blogging platform, Prof Dangou said there was need to act swiftly and address the deteriorating health situation. Indeed,…

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Zimbabwe Govt Allocates 71,500 Tonnes Of Grain To Feed Over 2 Million Food Insecure Citizens

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honorable July Moyo says government has set aside 71,500 metric tonnes of grain to distribute across food-insecure households during obtaining the lean season. Food situation data estimates that about 2,715,717 people will be in need of food assistance during the peak hunger period, between January and March 2024. The provinces with the highest food insecurity levels are Matabeleland North (42 percent) down from 58 percent from the previous year, Mashonaland Central (31 percent) and Masvingo province (30 percent). The…

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Gavi Board appoints Senator Dr Sania Nishtar as Chief Executive Officer

Michael Gwarisa

Today, the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance approved the appointment of Dr Sania Nishtar as its next Chief Executive Officer Dr Nishtar, currently a member of the Pakistan Senate, will assume the role on 18 March 2024 Dr Sania Nishtar: “I am honoured by the trust the Gavi Board placed in me and look forward to working with Gavi’s talented staff and skilled Alliance partners.” Geneva, 11 January 2024 – Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance announced today the appointment of Dr Sania Nishtar as its new Chief Executive Officer. Dr…

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When Religion Meets Cholera: Information Gaps Threaten Cholera Response In Marange

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa recently in Marange It’s 12:00 midnight, and two men knock at Cecilia Garira’s door. Cecilia is a famous Village Health Worker from the Johane Marange sect in Marange, Mfararikwa Village, who has volunteered to assist Cholera patients from her sect. The two men bear bad tidings. One of their members is critical and in need of help as he is exhibiting severe Cholera symptoms including dehydration. Cecilia doesn’t waste time. She packs her bag and joins the two men. Earlier in the day, the man in question…

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Convicting Crystal Meth/Mutoriro Possession: Zimbabwe’s Biggest Legal Lacuna

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is experiencing a Drug and Substance abuse crisis. The drug epidemic is mainly affecting young people mostly males, even though the prevalence of females who use drugs is also rising. According to the 2022 Situation Assessment report of drug use in Zimbabwe, 58.47 percent of males use drugs in Zimbabwe, while females account for 40.59 percent. One drug that has wreaked havoc in Zimbabwe is Crystal meth, a common name for crystal methamphetamine, a strong and highly addictive drug that affects the central nervous system.  There…

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#Breaking: Zimbabwe Targets Two Million With Oral Cholera Vaccines

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to provide temporal protection against Cholera infection and severe cholera symptoms, Zimbabwe will soon be rolling out a targeted Oral Cholera vaccination program in the 57 affected districts, HealthTimes has learnt. Zimbabwe is among the 18 countries battling Cholera in the world and according to the Africa Centre for Diseases Control (Africa CDC), the widespread Cholera crisis on the continent has pushed demand for Oral Cholera Vaccines (OVC) to unprecedented levels. However, Zimbabwe has since made headway in terms of procuring vaccines and mapping…

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Central Government Briefly Takes Over Solid Waste Management In Harare As Cholera Rears Ugly Head

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Riding on the existing Emergency Solid Waste Management Program, guided by Statutory Instrument 140 of 2023, following the declaration of a state of disaster in Harare Metropolitan province, the Zimbabwean government is implementing a raft of measures through Operation Chenesa Harare (Clean Harare), an ambitious waste management program targeting to clear all solid waste within a week. The collected waste will be taken to Pomona Dump Site in Harare in a move the government believes will address the drivers of Cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases in Harare.…

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Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda Lands Top United Nations Job

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda of Zimbabwe as Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, United Nations System Coordination and Programme Results at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). The Secretary-General wishes to extend his appreciation to UN Women Director, Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Support, Sarah Hendriks of Canada, who will continue to serve as UN Women Deputy Executive Director ad interim, until Ms. Gumbonzvanda assumes her functions. Ms. Gumbonzvanda is the Founder…

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Zimbabwe Kicks Off The New Year With Over 200 Cholera Hospitalisations

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa   Despite efforts by government and partners to contain the Cholera outbreak, an increased number of severe cases of the disease requiring hospital admission continue to be recorded throughout the country. Severe Cholera symptoms according to the Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) include profuse watery diarrhea, sometimes described as “rice-water stools”, vomiting, thirst, leg cramps, restlessness or irritability and these may require hospitalisation. According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Daily Cholera Situtaion Report for January 1, 2024, a total 247 cases were hospitalized…

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Madzimai Ane Zvivakashure Zvakati Kurei Haarware-rware

Michael Gwarisa

Nyaya na Michael Gwarisa Mazuvano, madzimai nevasikana vari kumhanya mhanya kuda kuita zvidya mafuta zvisingakore kana kuti ma Slender. Hazvina kushata, kasi manga muchizviziva here kuti kune tsvakurudzo yakaitwa inoratdiza kuti madzimai ane mwanda we zvivakashure ane hutano uye haarware rware sezvinoita avo vasina. Tsvakurudzo yakaitwa ne chikoro chezvidzidzo zvepmusoro che Oxford University’s . Pamadzimai zviuru gumi ne vavatanhatu (16,000) vakaongororwa musarudzi idzi varatidza kuti vakadzi vane zvivakashure zvakati kurei havangiorina njere chete muchikoro kasi havarware rware nezvirwere zvinonzi ma chronic illnesses zvinobata avo vasina. Mukru we tsvakurudzo idzi, Muzvinafundo…

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