Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

SASA Project Records Gains from Partnering Chiefs in Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls

Michael Gwarisa

WHILE Chiefs have traditionally been blamed for preserving harmful cultural practices that perpetuate abuse of women and girls, the SASA project being implemented by the Zimbabwe Association of Church related Hospitals (ZACH) has managed to rope in chiefs and other traditional leaders as allies in ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in communities. By Michael Gwarisa SASA stands for Start Awareness Support Action (SASA) and ZACH is implementing the program in eight hot spot districts (Chimanimani, Mguza, Kwekwe and Umzingwane] plus 4 additional hot spot districts). Speaking during the…

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UN Launches Joint Renewable Energy Fund in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations (UN) systme in Zimbabwe comprising of various UN agencies, has launched a UN SDG- Fund Initiative  to catalyze Investment into Renewable Energy for the Acceleration of the Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa The project proposal has been jointly developed by the Government of Zimbabwe, the UN system in Zimbabwe (namely UNESCO as lead, UNWOMEN, UNDP and UNCDF). Speaking at the launch in Harare, His Excellency Edward Kallon, UN Zimbabwe Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator said the fure needs sustainable renewbale eneergy projects.…

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Illicit drug abuse on the rise among Zimbabwean Women

Michael Gwarisa

THERE has been an increase in the number of women who use and inject drugs in Zimbabwe over the years owing to a myriad of factors, chief among them being unemployment, poverty among a host of other issues. By Michael Gwarisa This has been revealed by the Final Situation Assessment report of drug use in five provinces to inform HIV and TB programming for people who use drugs. The research was conducted by the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN), the National AIDS Council (NAC) and the Ministry of…

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African economies challenged to explore alternative ways forward to recover from multiple shocks

Michael Gwarisa

…57th AERC Biannual Workshop chart a path to a more resilient recovery African economies have been urged to include food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation framework in the economic agenda. This was said during the African Economies Research Conference (AERC) 57th Biannual Research Workshop. By Staff Reporter Speaking at the event, Cabinet Secretary of the National Treasury and Economics Planning in Kenya, Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, reiterated the need for governments across the continent to focus on protecting private investments, recovering the health infrastructure, education and nutrition as part of…

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Criminalisation has hurt sex workers and perpetuated the AIDS pandemic

Michael Gwarisa

Responding to the decision of South Africa’s Cabinet to propose a Bill that will repeal criminalisation of sex work, UNAIDS Country Director Eva Kiwango said: “The evidence is clear: Criminalisation has been proven to have increased the risks faced by South Africa’s sex workers, hurt their health and safety, and obstructed South Africa’s HIV response. UNAIDS welcomes South Africa’s Cabinet’s proposal to repeal criminalisation and to protect sex workers against abuse and exploitation. Criminalisation has impeded South African sex workers’ access to vital health-care services, including effective HIV prevention, treatment,…

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Five Zim Child Focused Agencies Condemn Continued Sexual Abuse of Young Girls

Michael Gwarisa

World Vision, Save the Children Zimbabwe, Plan International Zimbabwe and Sos Children’s Village have released a joint statement condemning the continued, horrendous sexual abuse of young girls in various parts of the country. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, the five agencies said child sexual abuse was a social ill that undermines the quest for equity and quality of life for young girls. The recent, shocking media reports on pre–teen girls from Tsholotsho and Bindura getting pregnant due to abuse shows that the violation of girls’ rights continues unabated. We…

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AWF Zimbabwe hosts high level EU Delegation and Heads of Cooperation in Mbire District; showcases successful project implementation

Michael Gwarisa

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) Zimbabwe hosted 8 European Union (EU) Heads of Cooperation and Deputy Ambassadors in Mbire District from 21-24 November 2022 amid efforts to showcase successful project implementation undertaken under the 2018-2021 EU LOZA funding and intensifying donor engagement. By Staff Reporter The EU Delegation comprised of Eva Van Woersem ; The Netherlands Deputy Ambassador, Head of Cooperation ; Anne Bourdy, France Deputy Ambassador, Head of Cooperation ; Michel Ott, Germany Deputy Ambassador, Head of Cooperation ; Bertholet Kaboru, Sweden Head of Cooperation ; Bernard De Schrevel,…

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PATA Summit Spotlights key SRHR and HIV Issues Affecting Young People

Michael Gwarisa

THE just ended three day PATA Summit Hub that was held in Bulawayo from 21 to 23 November 2022 highlighted some of key issues that young people from various societal groups face in their quest to access HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health (SHR) services. By Michael Gwarisa The three -day conference drew participants from young people and representatives of networks for young people in their diversity.  Various presentations were made by various panelist from across the globe and discussions were around the theme Ending AIDS in Children, Adolescence and Young…

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Inequalities Derail World Target To End AIDS By 2030

Michael Gwarisa

THE Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has launched a powerful new report, “Dangerous Inequalities” which spotlight the need to end inequalities in terms of access to HIV and AIDS services. By Michael Gwarisa The report coincides with 2023 World AIDS Day commemorations which  is an event and moment to honour over 40 million lives lost to AIDS, take stock of the AIDS response, and commit to ending AIDS. In her remarks following the launch of the report, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS said all was not gloom …

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Nearly 40 million children are dangerously susceptible to growing measles threat

Michael Gwarisa

Measles vaccination coverage has steadily declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, a record high of nearly 40 million children missed a measles vaccine dose: 25 million children missed their first dose and an additional 14.7 million children missed their second dose, a joint publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. This decline is a significant setback in global progress towards achieving and maintaining measles elimination and leaves millions of children susceptible to infection. In…

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