Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Governments announce increased financial support to the global AIDS response

Michael Gwarisa

Geneva, 22 June 2022—Addressing the UNAIDS Programme Coordination Board, governments have begun to pledge new investments to advance the end of AIDS. The United Kingdom and Germany were among those pledging increased resources to support the work of UNAIDS, the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS. The UK will increase funding to UNAIDS to £8 million per year, up from £2.5 million in 2021. The UK emphasised the importance of sufficient, predictable and timely funding towards enabling UNAIDS to deliver on its mandate. Germany will increase its funding to UNAIDS…

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Revamped Online Comprehensive Sexuality Education Teachers Course To Reach More Teachers

Michael Gwarisa

A new look online Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) course for teachers has been launched during a virtual meeting that was attended by governments officials, teachers from Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia as well as other stakeholders from across the East and Southern Africa (ESA) region. By Michael Gwarisa The CSE Online Course for Teachers is a self-paced online course that provides teachers with access to comprehensive study material developed by CSE experts. Teachers are acquiring adequate knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are critical for effective CSE delivery. This is a way…

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Namaste! International Day of Yoga Says UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Edward Kallon

Michael Gwarisa

Namaste. In recognition of the importance of individuals and populations making healthier choices and following lifestyle patterns that foster good health, the UN General Assembly designated 21 June as International Day of Yoga. Yoga has gained universal appeal and it is trending as a practice by millions the world over in their quest to achieve healthy lifestyles. The UN in Zimbabwe in response to the increasing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) has recognised that wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practising yoga would be beneficial for the health…

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Top athletes gear up for Econet Victoria Falls Marathon

Michael Gwarisa

WITH two weeks to go ahead of the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon, seasoned athletes say they are ready for the popular race which will be held in the iconic resort town on Sunday, July 3, 2022. By Staff Reporter World-class veteran athlete Moses Tarakinyu, who won the 21 kilometres half marathon the last time the marathon was held in 2019 says he is ready to defend his title this year. “I have been training hard in the past few months, and everything is going well so far. I am confident…

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Zimbabwe commemorates World Refugee Day in Tongogara Refugee Camp

Michael Gwarisa

Tongogara Refugee Camp, Manicaland, Zimbabwe. Today is World Refugee Day, a day to honour the courage, strength and contributions of millions of people worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes due to violence, war or persecution. It’s a day to remember that with help from hosting communities and neighbours, people can rebuild their lives and networks and even thrive. Staff Reporter This year’s theme is “Everyone has the right to asylum. Whoever they are. Wherever they come from. Whenever they need it.” In Zimbabwe, World Refugee Day celebrations…

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Zimbabwe Junior Doctors and Nurses Earning US$30 Per Month

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWEAN junior Doctors and nurses have downed tools following failure by government to resolve the long standing salary dispute which has dragged for years. By Michael Gwarisa This comes amidst indications that health care workers are earning a paltry monthly salary of ZW$18,000.00 per month, which is equivalent to US$30.00 on the parallel market. Speaking during the protests at the Health Services Board (HSB) Head Quarters at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Health APEX panel leader Dr Tapiwanashe Kusotera said going to work under the prevailing inflationary was unsustainable. As you may know,…

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MSF launches a new mental health intervention at Tongogara Refugee Camp

Michael Gwarisa

Chipinge, 20 June 2022: Today on World Refugee Day, the international medical humanitarian organisation, Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) launches a new mental health intervention at Tongogara Refugee Camp (TRC) in Chipinge, Zimbabwe, a place that has become home to nearly 15,000 refugees. Many refugees living in TRC fled war, conflict and unrest across the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa. A majority of them come from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Mozambique Ethiopia, and Eritrea. By Staff Reporter Most of the refugees have…

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Government – UN validate development results, set priorities for 2022 and beyond

Michael Gwarisa

SENIOR representatives from Government and the United Nations together with development partners, donors, civil society, and NGOs validated development results achieved in 2021 under the 2016-2021 Zimbabwe UN Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) and agreed on priorities for 2022 and beyond under the new five year, 2022-2026 Zimbabwe UN Sustainable Development Cooperation (ZUNSDCF). By Staff Reporter The ZUNSDCF joint senior steering committee meeting was co-chaired by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr. Misheck JM Sibanda and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mr Edward Kallon. Noting the overarching…

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Hitting Three Birds with One Stone: Low Cost Boarding Facilities to Address Teen Pregnancies, Early Marriages and New HIV Infections in Chimanimani Adolescent Girls

Michael Gwarisa

HILDER Muwani* (16) is doing Form 3 at Mhakwe Secondary school in Chimanimani. Every day, she walks 30 kilometers to and from school. She at some point contemplated moving to a bush boarding or renting a room near the school just to cut on the distance, but her parents would have none of it. They feared she would mix with the wrong crowd, fall pregnant and end up dropping out of school as has become the fate of many girls in Chimanimani. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Chimanimani The risk…

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NBSZ Pays Tribute To Blood Donors

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ), has acknowledged the immense role blood donors play in ensuring the blood bank is fully stocked to meet the ever growing demand for blood and blood products. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe today (14 June 2022) joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Blood Donor Day. In an interview with HealthTimes, NBSZ Chief Executive Officer, Ms Lucy Marowa said there has been tremendous improvement in blood collections despite existing operational challenges. I want to thank our blood donors for the support that…

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