Category: BREAKING NEWS

Crucial changes needed to protect workers’ health while teleworking

Healthtimes

The World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization have called for measures to be put in place to protect workers’ health while teleworking. Own Correspondent A new technical brief to healthy and safe teleworking, published by the two UN agencies, outlines the health benefits and risks of teleworking and the changes needed to accommodate the shift towards different forms of remote work arrangements brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the digital transformation of work. Among the benefits, the report says, there can be improved work–life balance, opportunities for…

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Huge volumes of COVID hospital waste threaten health – WHO

Healthtimes

GENEVA (Reuters) – Discarded syringes, used test kits and old vaccine bottles from the COVID-19 pandemic have piled up to create tens of thousands of tonnes of medical waste, threatening human health and the environment, a World Health Organization report said on Tuesday. The material, a portion of which could be infectious since coronavirus can survive on surfaces, potentially exposes health workers to burns, needle-stick injuries and disease-causing germs, the report said. Communities close to poorly-managed landfills can also be affected through contaminated air from burning waste, poor water quality…

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See Zimbabwe’s 2022 Full School Term Calendar

Healthtimes

2022 FULL SCHOOL CALENDAR: FIRST TERM Begins:  Monday, 7 February 2022 Ends: Thursday 7 April 2022 Public Holiday: One No Of School Days: 45 Exeat Weekends: None Vacation: 26 Days   SECOND TERM Begins: Tuesday 3, May 2022 Ends: Thursday 4 August 2022 Public Holidays: One No Of School Days: 69 Days Exeat Weekends: None Vacation: 30 Days   THIRD TERM Begins: Monday, 5 September 2022 Ends:Thursday 8 December, 2022 Public Holidays: None No Of School Days: 71 Days Exeat Weekends: None Vacation: 31 Days   First term2023 begins: Monday…

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150 000 New HIV infections Recorded Among Children In 2020

Michael Gwarisa

THE Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) says most of the 150 000 new HIV infections recorded among children in 2020 could have been prevented if interventions targeting the most affected groups had been implemented. HealthTimes Reporter According to the UNAIDS weekly update, a strong start would be to better engage women and girls at significant risk of acquiring HIV infection in integrated antenatal care and HIV services, including HIV prevention and testing, delivered at the local level, and to ensure that those who are HIV-positive receive…

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WHO Calls For Equitable Health Services For All To End NTDs

Michael Gwarisa

TO mark World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (WNTDD) , the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on everyone, to rally to confront inequalities that characterize NTDs and  ensure that the poorest and marginalized communities who are mostly affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) receive the health services they need. HealthTimes Reporter In his message for World NTD day, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus   said, “the COVID-19 pandemic has thrust millions of people deeper into poverty and affected those who already have limited access to health services.” He urged the global…

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#BREAKING: Schools Open On 7 February As Gvt Relaxes Lockdown Measures

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), has announced that the general school calendar will resume on February 7, 2022 as the country eases the lockdown measures that were meant to curtail the spread of the Omicron variant. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, acting health and child care minister, Professor Amon Murwirwa said the country over the past two weeks recorded a decline in new COVID-19 cases, hence the move to allow schools and other economic sectors to reopen. The National COVID-19 epidemic curve is indicating that the…

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NAC In Drive To Scale Up HIV Treatment And Testing Coverage In Males

Michael Gwarisa

THE National AIDS Council in Zimbabwe (NAC), has devised a number of strategies to bring men and boys on board, with the aim of increasing HIV treatment and testing coverage in males. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes in the midst of indications that globally, men continue to lag behind across the HIV testing and treatment continuum. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) special analysis of 2021, globally, the testing and treatment targets for 2020 were almost reached among adult women (15 years and…

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Building Bridges Project Reignites Feminism Energy In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE Building Bridges  for the Feminist Movement in Zimbabwe, has awakened the urge to champion women and girls rights in more than 70,000 young and budding feminists in at least four provinces in Zimbabwe where the project is being implemented. By Michael Gwarisa   The program came at the back of indications that the women’s movement was experiencing a decline in activism, as experienced women human rights defenders (WHRD) move on and young women have not necessarily had the opportunity to gain the skills, experience, finance and capacity to push…

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Zimbabwe Red Cross Deploys Support Team And Assistance To Floods Affected Areas

Healthtimes

THE Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, ZRCS, has deployed surge support and started assessments in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland Provinces, while also distributing response materials to worst affected areas with the support of Danish Red Cross and Finish Red Cross. Own Correspondent Part of the response also includes offering first aid to the injured while pre-positioned relief materials will be distributed in response to needs assessment include tents/ tarpaulins, hygiene kits, blankets, jerrycans and mosquito nets. ZRCS volunteers are already on standby, while in some places such…

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Omicron Related Diseases Severity Lower Than Other Variants- CDC

Healthtimes

DESPITE the Omicron variant having recorded the highest reported numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations during the pandemic, disease severity indicators, including length of stay, ICU admission, and deaths as a result of the strain were lower than during previous pandemic peaks.  According to a weekly morbidity and mortality report by the American Center for Disease Control (CDC) that analyzed trends in Disease Severity and Health Care Utilization During the Early Omicron Variant Period between the December 2020–January 2022 period, the majority of the cases were mild compared to previous…

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