Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

ICASA Invites African Creatives To Design Logo For ICASA 2023 To Be Held In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) Director, Dr Luc Armand Bodea has announced a call for the design of a logo for the 22nd Edition of the ICASA Conference to be held in Zimbabwe next year. By Michael Gwarisa The calls follows the recent official announcement of Zimbabwe as the host for the conference which was also followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at State House in Harare. Announcing the call at the ICASA stakeholders meeting in Harare, Dr Bodea said the call…

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Solar Energy Gives Zimbabwe’s Expanded Programme on Immunization Continuity

Michael Gwarisa

It’s an early Wednesday morning and Sister Marian Fadzi, the District Nursing Officer and her team at Mahusekwa District Hospital in Marondera are already preparing for a hectic day ahead where they intend to vaccinate children against Measles under the ongoing national measles vaccination drive. In a few days’ time, they will also commence a supplementary Polio vaccination programme at the Hospital as well as across all other 24 other health facilities in Marondera district. By Michael Gwarisa Despite the ongoing power outages due to prolonged load shedding schedules which…

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#BREAKING: Zimbabwe Approves Injectable PrEP for HIV prevention

Michael Gwarisa

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe announced that it has approved the use of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. This follows the WHO recommendation, announced in July 2022, that CAB-LA may be offered to people at substantial risk of HIV acquisition as part of comprehensive HIV prevention approaches. Two large studies showed that CAB-LA injections every 2 months were safe, well-tolerated, and highly effective in reducing the risk of HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men and transgender women and among cisgender…

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Curtain comes down on Regional SRHR Symposium…As Sweden Assesses New Funding Proposal For 2gether4SRHR Program

Michael Gwarisa

THE three day Regional Symposium on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR),has come to an end amidst growing calls for increased investment and creation of an enabling policy framework that allows for the smooth implementation of SRHR programs in the East and Southern African region (ESAR). By Michael Gwarisa in Victoria Falls The symposium was hosted by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and organized by UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO under the banner of the Joint UN Regional 2gether 4 SRHR Programme. Over 200 delegates from across 24…

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Zimbabwe’s Wins Bid To Host ICASA 2023

Michael Gwarisa

THE National AIDS Council (NAC) has confirmed Zimbabwe’s approval to host the 2023 International Conference on Aids and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, ICASA 2023. By Michael Gwarisa Contacted for comment, NAC Chief Executive Officer said they were finalizing modalities ahead to their meeting with the head of state, President Emerson Mnangagwa next week where a formal announcement will be made at a national level. We are now working on the finer details so that the official announcement will be made on Monday 17 October,” said DrMadzima. The final decision by ICASA…

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Future-Proofing SRHR Against shocks and emergencies through Integrating Healthcare Services

Michael Gwarisa

DURING the opening session of the East and Southern Africa regional SRHR symposium in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, United Nations Population Fund-East and Southern African Region  (UNFPA-ESARO)) Deputy Regional Director, Chinwe Ogbonna called on regional leaders and implementers of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) to devise new strategies to protect the gains that have been attained in as far as SRHR is concerned. By Michael Gwarisa The symposium is running under the banner of the Joint UN Regional 2gether 4 SRHR Programme which combines the unique strengths and contributions of…

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Regional Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Symposium Kicks-off In Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

OVER 20 African countries are gathered in the resort town of Victoria Falls to deliberate on issues around access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for young people with the aim of finding a lasting solution to teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, and HIV infections in East and Southern Africa. By Michael Gwarisa in Victoria Falls The three day regional symposium which will run up to Thursday, October 13, 2022  has been organized by the  UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO under the banner of the Joint UN Regional 2gether 4…

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Zimbabwe Launches Door-to-Door Supplementary Polio Immunisation Program

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) will from 27 to 30 October, 2022 kick-start the first round of a nationwide supplementary Polio immunisation drive as the country scales-up disease and outbreaks preparedness and prevention in children. By Michael Gwarisa The second round will start from December 1 up to December 4 and will be targeting children from Zero to five years. The supplementary vaccination will target children within the mentioned age range regardless of previous vaccination status. Even though Zimbabwe was certified Polio free in 2005, there have…

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Over 6,000 Children and Young People Virally Suppressed through Zvandiri’s Game-changer Project

Michael Gwarisa

THE Game-Changer program that was being implemented by Zvandiri, through a five year US$20 Million grant support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through USAID and the Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) has resulted in the consistent uptake of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has attained 94% Viral Load (VL) suppression. By Michael Gwarisa Among some of the key achievements of the Fame Changer project include a Viral Load (VL) Coverage of 74% (6800/9191)  and cumulatively, Zvandiri supported 412 health facilities on the Game Changer grant with over…

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Ministry of Health Holds Outbreaks and Immunisation Media Training

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) is holding a five days media training on immunisations and outbreaks in Domboshawa with the aim of capacitating health Journalists with the requisite information and knowledge around some of the interventions government is doing to address public health emergencies. By Michael Gwarisa The training is being attended by more than 25 Journalists and officials from the ministry of health Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) program. Giving opening remarks during the opening day of the workshop, MoHCC Director Nursing Services, Mrs Nyaradzai Chiwara…

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