Author: Michael Gwarisa

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

Zim preps intensified measles, polio vaccination

Michael Gwarisa

PREPARATIONS for an intensified measles and polio vaccination campaign are well on course as the Ministry of Health and Child Care commenced the training of trainers in Masvingo on Monday. This comes on the heels of the declaration of a measles outbreak in Mutasa district. The Health Ministry is conducting a Intergrated meeting on Polio Campaign & EPI Training of Trainers workshop on Supplementary Immunization Activities with support from UNICEF ZIMBABWE and WHO Zimbabwe. The participants were drawn from the country’s 10 provinces. “There are planned measles and polio campaigns…

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Why mental health is a priority for action on climate change

Michael Gwarisa

Climate change poses serious risks to mental health and well-being, concludes a new WHO policy brief, launched today at the Stockholm+50 conference. The Organization is therefore urging countries to include mental health support in their response to the climate crisis, citing examples where a few pioneering countries have done this effectively. The findings concur with a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in February this year. The IPPC revealed that rapidly increasing climate change poses a rising threat to mental health and psychosocial well-being; from emotional distress…

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PSMI employees await May salaries

Michael Gwarisa

EMPLOYEES at Premier Medical Aid Investments (PSMI) are yet to receive last month’s salaries with their employer assuring them that they will get it by mid June. By Kudakwashe PembereAn information circular seen by HealthTimes stated that the employees were to receive their May’s earnings this month. “The May 2022 payroll will be processed upon receipt of the Premier Service Medical Ald Society (PSMAS} Employer contribution, which management is currently following up with PSMAS. As per usual cycles, the inflows are expected in the 1st or 2nd week of June…

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Murambinda Sex Workers Inject each other’s Intoxicated Blood To Get High

Michael Gwarisa

FLASHBLOOD, a new trend of drug of and substance abuse has reportedly emerged among Murambinda based sex workers where desperate drug users deliberately inject themselves with another addict’s blood in an effort to share the intoxication. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Murambinda Flashblood is a syringe full of blood passed from someone who has just injected heroin to someone else who injects it in lieu of heroin. In Buhera District, novice and young sex workers have reportedly been practicing flashblood or bluetoothing as it is known in other parts of…

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Using Community Footprint To Eliminate New HIV Infections In Sex Workers

Michael Gwarisa

Spiwe Chikwawa (49), a sex worker from Mutare has been in the sex work business for two decades now. However, a few years ago, Spiwe developed a rare Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). In her own words, she says this particular STI takes the trophy in the history of all stubborn STIs as it became resistant to treatment at some point only to disappear after it had resurfaced for the third time. By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare Due to a prolonged period with the STI, she also developed a pungent and…

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Period poverty remains a major challenge for girls, young women

Michael Gwarisa

CIVIL society organisations has bemoaned the challenges faced by girls and young women in finding dignified sanitary wear. By Patricia Mashiri Sanitary wear has become expensive and a luxury for most girls as most of them resorted to using unhygienic waste materials which are uncomfortable and pose health hazards at times. Speaking at a Women’s Action Group (WAG) virtual Menstrual Hygiene Day Commemorations, Nancy Jokonya,  the Ministry of Health and Child Care representative who was the guest of honour said menstrual health and hygiene management remains a cause for concern…

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Door To Door ARV Distribution Model Draws Makoni District Closer To Attaining Third 95

Michael Gwarisa

THE Community Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) Treatment Facilitator (CATCF) model, a new ART collection and delivery program, has greatly enhanced HIV treatment adherence through offering door to door delivery of medications to ART clients in Makoni District. By Michael Gwarisa in Makoni District Across Zimbabwe, the CATCF model is currently being implemented only in seven health facilities in Makoni District. These are St Therese Hospital, Matsika Clinic, Masvosva Clinic, Chiduku Clinic, Chinyadza Clinic and Tatseka Clinic. Briefing Journalists during a media tour at St Therese Hospital in Makoni District in Manicaland…

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UNESCO Launches Report On African Film Industry

Michael Gwarisa

The UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) in partnership with the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) will host a regional launch of the African Film Industry Report on 31 May 2021 at the University campus. The Report, “Africa’s film industry: trends, challenges and opportunities for growth”, is a product of an exploratory study on the film and audiovisual industry in Africa undertaken by UNESCO. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities, as well as an overview of four potential growth patterns for the film and audiovisual industry.…

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IFRC Hands Over Replenishing Stocks To Boost Preparedness In Disaster Prone Districts

Michael Gwarisa

THE International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC), has handed over replenishing stocks valued at US$49000 to the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) to strengthen emergency response capacity in areas that are highly prone to the natural disasters. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has in the past three years experienced recurring natural disasters such as Tropical Cyclones, depressions and flooding. The replenishing stocks will support the National Society to preposition in the Masholanad East, Mashonaland Central, Masvingo and Manicaland provinces that were affected by disasters. Giving his acceptance remarks on behalf of…

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Outcry As Major Funders Pull The Plug On Dapivirine Vaginal Ring Rollout

Michael Gwarisa

A cloud of uncertainty has gripped the envisaged roll-out of the Vaginal ring or Dapivirine ring in Sub-Saharan Africa amidst indications that two of the major funding partners,  the USAID and PEPFAR won’t be paying for the rollout of the ring but will now only support implementation studies. By Michael Gwarisa  The development comes despite some progress that had been registered on the African continent where some governments had already approved use of the Dapivirine ring as a method of preventing new HIV infections in women. Zimbabwe and South Africa…

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