Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Zim Moves To Set Up Low-cost IVF Centre To Assist Infertile Couples

Michael Gwarisa

In a move that is set to address catastrophic costs associated with accessing In vitro fertilisation (IFV) services, a team of Zimbabwean medical doctors is working with the government and the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) to establish a low cost IVF centre to run under the public sector healthcare system. By Michael Gwarisa in Dubai IVF is a process of fertilisation where an egg is combined with sperm in vitro. The process involves monitoring and stimulating a woman’s ovulatory process, removing an ovum or ova from her ovaries and letting…

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Sub-Saharan Africa Has Highest AMR related Deaths-Dr Moeti

Michael Gwarisa

WORLD Health Organisation (WHO) WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti says African governments should step-up the fight against Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) as the continent has one of highest AMR associated mortality in the world. By Michael Gwarisa In her World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 Messag, Dr Moeti said there was also concerns over high rates of spread of AMR development and spread. Compared to other regions, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest AMR-associated death rates, at 99 deaths per 100 0001 population, far exceeding previous global projections of 700…

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US Trained Orthodontist, Dr Chinhara Builds One Stop Medical Centre In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

RENOWNED Orthodontist, Dr Antony Chinhara has set up  “The Chase Dental”, an Orthodontics Centre in the leafy suburb of Mt Pleasant in Harare. By HealthTimes Reporter Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws. Dr Anthony Chinhara started off as a medical laboratory scientist and worked at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals as a clinical biochemist before proceeding to the United States for his Masters degree. Speaking at the launch, Dr Chinhara said the move has been motivated by the shortage…

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Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2022 Kicks Off In Dubai

Michael Gwarisa

THE 9th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, a yearly educational conference conducted to contribute to Africa and Asia’s socio-economic development, has commenced in Dubai amidst growing calls for governments in Africa to make infertility treatment affordable to the general citizenry. By Michael Gwarisa The two day conference, a hybrid meeting is being attended by over 6000 delegates physically and online and these include healthcare providers, Policy makers, academia, researchers and health media from more than 70 English, French and Portuguese speaking countries. Giving her introductory remarks, Merck…

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Almost 200 babies born through IVF Zimbabwe programme

Michael Gwarisa

The in vitro (IVF) fertilisation programme which was reintroduced in Zimbabwe in 2016 by a team led by Dr Tinovimba Mhlanga has proved a great success with 197 live births recorded so far and more expected before the year ends. By Michael Gwarisa With almost 500 treatment cycles having been performed this gives an overall average success rate of 39 percent, which compares favourably with the success rate in other countries. Dr Mhlanga pointed out, however, that the success rate varies with age. Women aged between 20 and 35 have…

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US Government Injects US$54 Million Towards FACT’S DREAMS SMART Girls and Space for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Programs

Michael Gwarisa

The Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT-Zimbabwe) and its partners with funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched critical programs worth more than US$54 million to help fight HIV in Manicaland and Masvingo. By Michael Gwarisa The programs are Sustaining Prevention, Increasing Access to Care and Empowerment for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (SPACE for OVC) and the DREAMS- Support, Maintain, Advocate, reduce Risk and Transform (SMART) Girls. Representing the Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister,  Mr Pastense Tarondwa, said…

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Climate Change Hits Mana pools National Park: One Pool on brink of permanently drying up, Baobab trees dying

Michael Gwarisa

Approximately 7,000 kilometres away in the City of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, the world is gathered for the COP27 climate conference to take action towards achieving the world’s collective climate goals in the midst of raging global warming and climate change induced catastrophes. The conference kicked off on November 6 ending November 18. By Michael Gwarisa Back home in Zimbabwe, the effects of Climate Change can already be felt in the Mana Pools National Park, one of the country’s leading tourist attractions and home to 350 bird species and large…

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Zimparks, AWF Partnership Boosts Morale In the Conservation camp

Michael Gwarisa

SUPPORT from the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) towards the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks), has already improved operational outcomes as evidenced by the reduction in poaching activities in the Mid Zambezi valley. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Mid Zambezi Valley Since 2018, AWF invested over USD10 million in the Mid Zambezi Valley through infrastructural developments, provision, and digitalization of radio communication equipment, providing fuel, field and camping equipment, patrol rations, vehicles and boats for anti–poaching patrols and facilitating specialized training and capacity building programs for rangers as part…

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How Stoneridge, An Informal Settlement Uses Innovative Earthworm Technology To Manage Waste

Michael Gwarisa

IN 2019, the City of Harare hinted on plans to regularise Stoneridge, which is an illegal settlement 15 kilometers South East of the centre of Harare and houses not less than 39 000 households. However, while plans are still underway to formalise settlement and evidence of modern housing and road infrastructure already showing in some parts of Stoneridge where property developers have bought, there still remains a sizable number of people who are still informally settled. By Michael Gwarisa Majority of these people lack basic amenities owing to their settlement…

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Turning a Dump-Site into a fountain Of Hope: How MSF’s Sanitary Seals Are Purifying Underground Water in Harare’s Cholera Hotspots

Michael Gwarisa

Mrs Netsai Manthenga (46), a resident of Mbare National, recalls how they used to wake up as early as 4:00 in the morning to queue for water at Stoddard Hall in Mbare only to return home around mid-day. Elderly residents who failed to cope with the shoving and pushing at the water points would at times get their water from a nearby stream where raw sewage and dirty water that is usually drained from the Swimming pool nearby flows. By Michael Gwarisa It wasn’t easy,” she says, “Imagine spending eight…

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