Category: BREAKING NEWS

UNICEF Zimbabwe calls for more attention for the mental health of children and adolescents

Michael Gwarisa

Two thirds of children in Zimbabwe have experienced violent discipline and are vulnerable to mental health challenges Harare, 19 May 2022 – Abuse, neglect and other adverse childhood experiences are the main preventable causes of poor mental health, UNICEF said today on the World Action Day for mental health. Mental health challenges might well impact on many children and adolescents in Zimbabwe as several forms of violence against children are prevalent in the country. More than two thirds of children in the country experience some form of violent discipline and…

Read More

Govt defends Health Services Bill That Prevents Healthcare Workers From Striking

Healthtimes

GOVERNMENT has defended its Health Services Amendment Bill arguing health workers are not allowed to strike for they are an essential service. By Kudakwashe Pembere Health economists and public health experts have described the bill as draconian and counterproductive and it has been blamed for the massive exodus of skilled personal the country is country experiencing. Speaking before the Parliament on behalf of the Vice President who is also Health and Child Care Minister,  Constantine Chiwenga, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Honorable Ziyambi Ziyambi said unions hoodwinked health workers into…

Read More

Youth Engage takes global AIDS strategy to grassroots

Healthtimes

Youth Engage Zimbabwe, a  grassroots youth organization that advocates for the health, well-being and human rights of all young people  with the support of UNAIDS, has embarked on country-wide youth dialogues in an effort to  prompt the policy makers to do well on their promise in terms of health service delivery, allocation of funds and prioritization of beneficiaries. By Patricia Mashiri The dialogues are focusing on building evidence-based submissions on key asks, solutions, and priorities that will address gaps at a local grassroots level on HIV/ AIDS, Sexual Gender Based…

Read More

Mozambique confirms wild poliovirus case

Michael Gwarisa

Health authorities in Mozambique today declared an outbreak of wild poliovirus type 1 after confirming that a child in the country’s north-eastern Tete province had contracted the disease. This marks the second imported case of wild poliovirus in southern Africa this year, following an outbreak in Malawi in mid-February. By Staff Reporter  So far, one case in Mozambique – the country’s first since 1992 – has been detected. The virus was found in a child who began experiencing onset of paralysis in late March. Genomic sequencing analysis indicates that the…

Read More

Merck Foundation avails 650 scholarships for Specialist Training

Healthtimes

MERCK Foundation says it has offered African doctors from 43 countries over 650 scholarships for specialist training in Cardiovascular, Diabetes and endocrinology care. By Staff Reporter Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks World Hypertension Day 2022 in partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Medical Societies and Academia, through their long-term commitment toward building Cardiovascular, Diabetes, and Endocrinology care capacity in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. At Merck Foundation, we mark ‘World Hypertension Day’ every day by providing more than 650 scholarships of Cardiovascular, Diabetes…

Read More

Zimbabwe amongst African Countries with Highest Tobacco Related Deaths in Females

Michael Gwarisa

THE 7th edition of the Tobacco Atlas report has placed Zimbabwe in the top 1o list of countries with the highest tobacco related deaths in females on the African continent. By Michael Gwarisa The deaths are linked to the increased prevalence in smoking habits at the back of affordability of tobacco products and aggressive marketing by in Africa by tobacco companies. According to the 7th edition of Tobacco Atlas report, with its rapidly growing populations and rising life expectancy, an increase in the number of smokers combined with more years…

Read More

Almost one billion children and adults with disabilities and older persons in need of assistive technology denied access, according to new report

Healthtimes

WHO and UNICEF call on governments, industry, donors and civil society to fund and prioritize access to assistive products A new report published today by WHO and UNICEF reveals that more than 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive products, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, or apps that support communication and cognition. Yet nearly one billion of them are denied access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access can be as low as 3% of the need for these life-changing products. The Global Report on Assistive Technology presents…

Read More

Promoting mental health in the workplace in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

Harare, Zimbabwe – On average, every working Zimbabwean spends one third of their life at work. This is a lot of time employees are exposed to work-related stresses. Moreover, the COVID- 19 pandemic exacerbated the risk of Mental Health (MH) conditions and aggravated pre-existing ones. Yet, aspects that affect job performance, such as psychological wellbeing, remain largely unaddressed at the workplace. Most companies have very limited MH and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services offered in the workplace. By Tatenda Chimbwanda Since, employees do not have the basic skills to screen themselves,…

Read More

Zim Hosts One Impact Mobile App Familiarisation Meeting

Michael Gwarisa

VARIOUS stakeholders from the heath sector converged in Macheke, Mashonaland East to familiarise with the One-Health Mobile application, a tool which is set to become a key strategic response to combatting the challenges faced by Tuberculosis (TB) survivors and communities affected by TB as well as overcome bottlenecks in ending the TB epidemic. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes on the side-lines of the One Impact Planning meeting in Macheke on Friday, 14 May 2022, Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation (JHWO) Executive Director, Dr Donald Tobaiwa said, “Today’s meeting…

Read More

Zim Nurses Morale At Record Low

Michael Gwarisa

THE continued economic hardships and poor conditions of service for nurses have further dampened morale in the nursing camp, with indications that more experienced nurses are already processing paperwork to leave the country for better employment opportunities. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is currently battling one of its worst exodus in skilled nursing personal, amidst indications that in 2021, at least 2000 nurses were confirmed to have left the country for greener pastures and under the prevailing situation, more are likely to leave before the year ends. There has also been…

Read More