Category: BREAKING NEWS

Two Generations, One Battle: Global Fund’s Role in Zimbabwe’s ARV Success

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa When Otilia Tasikasni learned she was HIV positive in 1991, she believed her life was over. The diagnosis then was not just a medical statement; it was a countdown. Doctors told her she had only two or three years to live, and every day felt like borrowed time. “At one point, all I would think of was dying,” recalls the 59-year-old, her voice steady but her eyes betraying memories of that period. “Even though I was not sick then or showing any signs of illness, I was…

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AfroMedia Condemns Targeted Killings of Journalists in Gaza, Urges UN to Act

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  The African Initiative for Journalism and Media (AfroMedia) has strongly condemned what it describes as the systematic targeting of journalists and civilians in Gaza by the Israeli occupation since October 7, 2023. The organisation says the killings represent a blatant violation of international laws and UN charters guaranteeing the protection of civilians and media workers during armed conflicts. Citing reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), AfroMedia noted that more than 240 journalists and media professionals have been killed…

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Zimbabwe Launches Phase Two of “Strength is in You” Campaign to Combat Drug Abuse

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Zimbabwe has officially launched Phase Two of the national “Strength is in You” campaign, a comprehensive effort to tackle the persistent challenge of drug and substance abuse. The campaign, implemented by Population Solutions for Health with strong backing from the Embassy of Sweden, aims to empower youth, caregivers, and communities to resist and recover from addiction. Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social, Mercy Dinha opened the event by emphasizing the seriousness of the drug abuse crisis in Zimbabwe. It is both an honor and a…

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New HIV Vaccine trial targets mutation and Resistance

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa For decades, scientists have battled the elusive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), whose ability to mutate and develop resistance has defeated one vaccine candidate after another. Now, a groundbreaking clinical trial under way in Zimbabwe and South Africa aims to outsmart the virus by targeting its most vulnerable, unchanging parts. The investigational vaccine, known scientifically as the Gorilla Adenovirus Vectored HIV Networked Epitopes Vaccine (GRAdHIVNE1), is designed to hit HIV where it hurts most: regions critical to its structure and function, making it harder for the virus to…

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Zimbabwe Launches Unitaid-Funded Project to Tackle Drug-Resistant TB Through Community Power

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Zimbabwe has taken a bold step in the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) with the launch of the Unitaid-funded COMBAT DRTB project, an ambitious initiative set to place communities at the center of TB care and drive transformative change in how the disease is managed across the country. The project, officially titled Community-Driven Approaches for Transformative Change to Combat Drug-Resistant TB (COMBAT DRTB), was unveiled today at an inception meeting held in Harare, bringing together stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, and development partners. The launch marks…

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China Deploys Drones and Mosquito Nets Amid Chikungunya Outbreak

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa China has launched an aggressive response to a Chikungunya virus outbreak that has infected over 7,000 people, mainly in Foshan, Guangdong Province. The mosquito-borne virus, which causes fever and severe joint pain, has led to hospitalizations lasting up to a week. In a COVID-style response, authorities have deployed drones to locate mosquito breeding sites and workers are disinfecting streets and buildings. Citizens have been advised to use mosquito nets and insect repellents, particularly the elderly, young children, and those with pre-existing health conditions. While the situation remains…

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Zim Screens 22 271 Women for Cervical Cancer Under NDS1

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere With the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) nearing its end this year, 22,271 women were screened for cervical cancer under its health pillar. This was revealed by Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Honourable Jenfan Muswere during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday. Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge in Zimbabwe, ranking as the fourth most common cancer both globally and regionally. Each year, around 3,043 women in the country are diagnosed with the disease, and approximately 1,976 die from it. Zimbabwe is among the…

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WHO Warns Against Using Antibiotics to Treat COVID-19 or Flu

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued updated guidelines strongly advising against the use of antibiotics to treat COVID-19 or influenza, emphasizing that these medications are ineffective against viral infections and contribute to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The guidelines, outlined in a recent WHO evidence brief, stress that antibiotics should only be prescribed for bacterial infections, not viral illnesses like COVID-19 or the flu. Misuse of antibiotics during the pandemic has exacerbated AMR, a global health crisis that could render common infections untreatable in…

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No, Sperm Don’t Win the Race. Human Eggs Actually Choose Which Ones to Let In, New Study Finds

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In what could revolutionize our understanding of human reproduction, a groundbreaking study by researchers at Stockholm University, in collaboration with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, has revealed that human eggs play a far more active role in fertilization than previously believed. For decades, the dominant narrative around conception has likened it to a high-speed race where the fastest sperm reaches and fertilizes the egg first. However, this new research, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, suggests otherwise. It turns out that human eggs…

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Union Zimbabwe Trust Rolls Out Groundbreaking TB and Silicosis Screening Drive in Mining Hubs of Mberengwa and Zvishavane

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  The Union Zimbabwe Trust (UZT), with funding from the Stop TB Partnership (Global), has launched an innovative tuberculosis (TB) screening outreach programme aimed at boosting early detection and treatment in high-risk artisanal mining communities in Mberengwa and Zvishavane. The initiative employs a mobile outreach model, featuring ultra-portable digital X-ray machines enhanced with CAD-AI (Computer-Aided Diagnosis) technology. This allows for real-time interpretation of X-ray images to detect abnormalities suggestive of TB and silicosis. The programme also includes rapid field specimen testing for diagnosis and integrates screening for other…

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