Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Zim’s Adolescents and Young People Attend In-Country Hub For The 2022 AIDS Conference 

Michael Gwarisa

YOUNG people from various communities In Zimbabwe converged for the AIDS2022 In Country Virtual Hub amidst growing calls for government to increase domestic funding towards HIV and AIDS programing. By Michael Gwarisa The five day in-country AIDS2022 In Country Virtual Hub was hosted by Zvandiri in Harare at Bronte Hotel following the denying of visas for most young people mainly from African countries to attend the in-person AIDS2022 Conference in Montreal Canada. Other African countries that held in country hubs include Eswatini, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola and Malawi. In Zimbabwe, The…

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Achieving an AIDS-free future: African leaders are championing sexuality education at the International AIDS Conference

Michael Gwarisa

MONTREAL, Canada, 1 August 2022 — At the 24 th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022) held inMontreal, UNESCO and Frontline AIDS hosted a session where African leaders championed sexualityeducation and challenged misinformation to work toward an AIDS-free generation. Young advocates,representatives from African governments and CSOs made the case on why Comprehensive SexualityEducation should remain a priority for HIV prevention efforts and health and wellbeing for young peoplein Sub-Saharan Africa. “Every week, 4900 girls and women aged 15-24 in Sub-Saharan Africa acquire HIV. Each one of theseinfections could be prevented if…

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Zimbabwe Submits Bid To Host ICASA In 2023

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE together with other five African countries have submitted bids to host the International Conference on AIDS and STIs In Africa (ICASA) in 2023. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s intention to host the 2023 ICASA was announced during a Press Conference that was held on Friday by ICASA at the ongoing 24th International AIDS Conference in Montreal Canada. The Zimbabwean delegation was also present during the press conference and was headed by the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr John Mangwiro. Speaking during the Press Conference, Dr John…

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Zimbabwe Records 323 Adverse Reactions To COVID-19 Vaccines

Michael Gwarisa

A total 323 suspected COVID-19 Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI), had been reported to the Medicines Control of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) as of July, 8 2022. By Michael Gwarisa This is out of a cumulative total of 6.3 million 1st doses and 4.6 million 2nd doses of COVID-19 vaccines that have been administered since the National Vaccination program was launched in February 2021. This translates to a rate of approximately 0.003% suspected adverse events (approximately 3 reactions for every 10 000 doses administered). 70% of these 323 AEFI reports were received…

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Medicinal Cannabis License Applications Galore

Michael Gwarisa

VARIOUS players and individuals in the pharmaceutical as well as complimentary medicines sector have already submitted applications seeking approval to dispense hemp-based canabidiol products as complementary medicines. By Michael Gwarisa The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) recently put out a call to submit applications for registration in the form of a dossier as required by complementary medicines guidelines. In an interview with HealthTimes, MCAZ Acting Director General, Mr Richard Rukwata said the response to their call has been overwhelming of late. Quite a number of individuals have expressed interest…

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No Means No! Empowering Adolescent Girls To Ward-Off Sexual Violence Through Self-Defense

Michael Gwarisa

Tarisai Mhlanga (10), a Grade 6 pupil at Tafara Primary school in Chipinge says she wants to be a doctor when she grows up. However, with the increasing cases of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in her community, she fears her dream might never come true. By Michael Gwarisa Though she is still very young, Tarisai dreads that one day on her way from school, when an abuser might just pounce on her and change her life completely. Her fears are real. Sexual abuse is rife in Manicaland province. Since…

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Surviving TB As A Young Person. Tracing Dr Tanaka Mukuhwa’s Journey With TB

Michael Gwarisa

Tanaka Mukuhwa (19) from Mutare is a Tuberculosis Survivor and a young person living openly with HIV. He was diagnosed with Meningitis Tuberculosis (TB) at the age of 13 when he was still in school and stayed in hospital for six months. By Michael Gwarisa His story illustrates the profound consequences tuberculosis can have on young people especially those at the prime of their lives. Even though Tanaka’s story has a happy ending and describes unexpected positives amidst the challenges of tuberculosis treatment, including how this disease might provide an…

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World Population To Hit 8 Billion Mark In November 2022

Michael Gwarisa

The United Nations announced that the world’s population is expected to reach 8 billion on 15 November 2022  – a milestone for humanity – and in 2023 India is projected to become the most populous country, surpassing China. But perhaps the even bigger headline is that fertility rates are at a historic low: Two thirds of people are now living in a country or area with a lifetime fertility below the replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman. By Own Correspondent These new data arrive at a time of dizzying…

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Millions of lives at risk as progress against AIDS falters

Michael Gwarisa

MONTREAL/GENEVA- New data from UNAIDS on the global HIV response reveals that during the last two years of COVID-19 and other global crises, progress against the HIV pandemic has faltered, resources have shrunk, and millions of lives are at risk as a result. The new report, In Danger, is being launched ahead of the International AIDS Conference in Montreal, Canada. Globally the number of new infections dropped only 3.6% between 2020 and 2021, the smallest annual decline in new HIV infections since 2016. Eastern Europe and central Asia, Middle East…

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Zim In Youth Population Bulge: Is Zimbabwe Ready to Harness This Demographic Change?

Michael Gwarisa

THE 2022 Population and Housing Census preliminary results have since been released with latest figures showing that the country has witnessed an annual population growth rate of 1.5%. Zimbabwe’s population was at 7.5 million people in 1982 and the latest statistics shows that it has taken 40 years for Zimbabwe’s population to double. By Michael Gwarisa According to population and demographics experts, at the current population growth rate, it will take Zimbabwe probably about 15 years to double to about 30 million people. According to the latest 2022 population and…

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