Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

WHO prequalifies a second malaria vaccine

Michael Gwarisa

WHO has added the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine to its list of prequalified vaccines. In October 2023, WHO recommended its use for the prevention of malaria in children following the advice of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group. The prequalification means larger access to vaccines as a key tool to prevent malaria in children with it being a prerequisite for vaccine procurement by UNICEF and funding support for deployment by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The R21 vaccine is the second malaria vaccine…

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Idle Buildings Converted Into Life-Saving Oral Rehydration Points For Cholera Patients In Manicaland

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Manicaland Almost 15 kilometers from Zvipiripiri Rural Clinic, Sekuru Ramson Nyatsanza* (79) from Nyangani Village Ward 16 in Mutare rural, is experiencing severe Cholera symptoms. He is vomiting profusely and the rice water-like diarrhoea is not stopping. Despite being a member of an Apostolic Sect that is known for prohibitin followers from seeking healthcare services, Sekuru Nyatsanza is determined to get help. His relatives carry him to an Oral Rehydration Point (ORP) that the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) through technical and financial support…

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Road Accidents Kill More Young People Than HIV and AIDS- Data

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Even though the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) report on Road Safety shows a 5 percent reduction in traffic deaths globally, data from the same report confirm that road accidents are increasing at an alarming rate. The report shows that road traffic deaths have fallen slightly to 1.19 million per year. However, the price paid for mobility remains far too high as countries continue to lose more young productive people to road-related accidents. According to the report, there were an estimated 1.19 million road traffic deaths in…

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Over 2000 Sexual Violence Criminal Acts Recorded In Zimbabwe In The Past Three Months

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Crimes of a sexual nature, coupled with the increased occurrence of intimate partner violence and gender-based violence (GBV) continue to dominate Zimbabwe’s Crime data, official statistics have shown. Data gathered by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) shows that rape is still a major crime in Zimbabwe, with men constituting the largest number of perpetrators. According to the Zimstat data relating to Crimes and Prison admissions for the Third Quarter of 2023, the national crime rate was 1,201.8 crimes per 100,000 people in the third quarter, an…

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Harare Declaration For African Women Who Use Drugs Launched

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a move that is to end discrimination, as well as promote harm reduction interventions for African women who use drugs, women who use drugs recently read out content to the Harare Declaration by and for African Women who Use Drugs at the 22nd edition of the ICASA conference. Despite the growing adoption of policies and  mechanisms to protect women on the continent, Sub-Saharan African women who use drugs continue to experience inequality, violence, stigma, high exposure to HIV and discrimination from all sections of society. Even…

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Zimbabwe Cricket Officially Adopts KidzCan Zimbabwe As Charity of Choice

Michael Gwarisa

Kidzcan has been officially adopted as the Charity of Choice by Zimbabwe Crikcet team. The masterstroke announcement was made at a colourful event yesterday by Director of cricket Hamilton Masakadza who also brought the national team players led by Sikandar Raza to the home of KidzCan at 111 East road, Belgravia. The amazing cricket body also donated groceries. Zim Cricket have also donated the Zim/ Ireland match 17 Dec to KidzCan.Please come and support #NewsInBrief

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#BREAKING: Zimbabwe Among Five Africa Countries Battling Anthrax Outbreak

Michael Gwarisa

By Own Correspondant Brazzaville – Five countries in East and southern Africa are experiencing anthrax outbreaks, with more than 1100 suspected cases and 20 related deaths reported since the start of the year. A total of 1166 suspected and 37 confirmed cases have been recorded in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe – where the disease is endemic, with seasonal outbreaks every year – according to data reported to World Health Organization (WHO). Of the five countries, Zambia is witnessing its largest outbreak since 2011, with nine of its 10…

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Fragile Health Systems Expose Africa To Untold Climate Change Disasters Says AMREF

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa For a long time, discourse on climate change has revolved around the effects of Climate Change on the environment in particular air pollution, an issue most prevalent in the Global North. Very little focus was being given to the impact of climate change on the health and well-being of the human population. However, for the first time in many years, African health Ministers and their counterparts from around the world converged in Dubai for the COP28 where they delivered a strong message regarding the impact climate change…

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ARASA unveils 2033 Health and Rights report

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to uncover and address the shrinking civil space and funding gaps for Sexual Reproductive health, HIV, and Tuberculosis programming in the Southern African regional, ARASA has launched it’s 2033 Health and Rights report. The report was launched this week on the sidelines of the 22nd Edition of the International Conference on Aids and STIs in Africa (ICASA). ARASA director, Dr. Ntombi Muchuchuti said the report was in synch with the ICASA theme for 2023, Let Communities Lead. “The report is an analysis and assessment…

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Zim rolls out Child-friendly ARV formulations to keep children on treatment

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Minister of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Douglas Mombeshora says more than 87 percent of children in Zimbabwe are now on child-friendly Dolutegravir (DTG) based formulations. His remarks follow indications that children in Zimbabwe were lagging regarding treatment coverage and data from 2022 shows that only 69 percent of children living with HIV were on Antiretroviral Treatment compared to 95 percent of adults on ART. Speaking during a panel session of Accelerating the Implementation of the Global Alliance Country Action Plan to End AIDS in…

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