BREAKING NEWS |

PSI’s Hormonal IUD’s Popularity Grows In Africa

January 18, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

A new study that was conducted by the Population Service International (PSI) to ascertain the profiles of women who choose to use the hormonal Intrauterine Device (IUD) method of contraception have revealed that most users continued using the method due to high levels of satisfaction. By Michael Gwarisa The study is titled Introducing the hormonal Intrauterine Device in Madagascar, Nigeria, and Zambia: results from a pilot study. The study was conducted by Kendal Danna, the PSI Sexual and Reproductive Health Technical Advisor together with her partners where a longitudinal study…

COVAX delivers its 1 billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose

January 18, 2022 Healthtimes

On 15 January 2022, a shipment of 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda included the billionth dose supplied via COVAX. Own Correspondent Together with our partners, COVAX is leading the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, with deliveries to 144 countries to date. But the work that has gone into this milestone is only a reminder of the work that remains. As of 13 January 2022, out of 194 Member States, 36 WHO Member States have vaccinated less than 10% of their population, and 88 less than 40%.…

‘Gender-bending’ chemicals found to ‘feminise’ boys

January 15, 2022 Healthtimes

“Gender-bending” chemicals mimicking the female hormone oestrogen can disrupt the development of baby boys, suggests the first evidence linking certain chemicals in everyday plastics to effects in humans. By Andy Coghlan The chemicals implicated are phthalates, which make plastics more pliable in many cosmetics, toys, baby-feeding bottles and paints and can leak into water and food. All previous studies suggesting these chemicals blunt the influence of the male hormone testosterone on healthy development of males have been in animals. “This research highlights the need for tougher controls of gender-bending chemicals,”…

WHO recommends two new drugs to treat COVID-19

January 15, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

WHO has recommended two new drugs for COVID-19, providing yet more options for treating the disease. The extent to which these medicines will save lives depends on how widely available and affordable they will be. HealthTimes Reporter The first drug, baricitinib, is strongly recommended for patients with severe or critical COVID-19. It is part of a class of drugs called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors that suppress the overstimulation of the immune system. WHO recommends that it is given with corticosteroids. Baricitinib is an oral drug, used in the treatment of…

#JUSTIN: Prepare For Schools Reopening In Three Weeks Time

January 14, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

HEALTH and Child Care Minister who is also the Vice President of Zimbabwe, Dr Constatino Chiwenga has announced an extension to the current lockdown by another two weeks in order to give schools and parents enough time to prepare for the reopening of schools soon after the lockdown. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, Dr Chiwenga said schools will be given at least one week after the two week renewed lockdown period to put COVID-19 preventive measures in place before classes resume. Schools will be given at least one week…

Blood group O stocks run dry

January 14, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

INCREASED demand for blood Group O has led to the depletion of stocks, prompting the blood bank to run on a single day’s supply, which is a far cry from the five days’ supply a healthy blood bank is recommended to maintain at any given time. By Michael Gwarisa This is however despite the fact that stocks for other blood groups are currently, with indications on the ground showing that the blood bank could be sitting on more than seven days’ supply for Blood Group A, which is above the…

Musasa Project Launches GBV Braille Publication

January 13, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

IN a move to promote inclusive access to Gender Based Violence (GBV) services as well as bridge existing gaps to accessing services, Musasa Project has produced a Braille publication to cater for women and girls with visual impairment and those with low vision. By Michael Gwarisa Publication of the two paged pamphlet was made possible through support from the United Nations Population Fund in Zimbabwe (UNFPA-Zimbabwe), the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the program “Increasing access…

Zimbabweans Go Fund To Raise Money To Repatriate Nurse Who Died In The UK

January 12, 2022January 12, 2022 Healthtimes

A Go-fund me initiative to raise funds to facilitate the repatriation of Divine Mupoperi, a young nurse who died in the United Kingdom has kicked off. Staff Reporter Divine relocated to the UK in Nov 2021,. However, information at hand indicates that she died in her sleep on January 9, 2022 from suspected seizure. She is survived by her 12 year old daughter & twins who are 16 months old. To donate funds for Divine’s repatriation, Click the Go-Fund me link HERE

President Xi JINPING Donates 10 Million More Vaccines To Zimbabwe

January 12, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

THE People’s Republic of China’s President, XI JINPING has donated 10 million vaccine doses to Zimbabwe in a move that is set to boost vaccine availability and increase the country’s ability to inoculate more people in the face of a raging COVID-19 pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa The donated consignment consists of 6 million Sinovac doses and 4 million Sinopharm doses in addition to the 2 million doses Zimbabwe has received from China since February 2021. In his acceptance speech, Zimbabwe’s President, Emerson Mnangagwa paid tribute to China’s commitment to advancing…

WHO Technical Advisory Team Warns That Omicron Reduces Vaccine Effectiveness…Calls For Development Of Stronger Vaccines

January 12, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

PRELIMINARY data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC) shows that the mutational profile of the Omicron strain reduces vaccine effectiveness in symptomatic patients. By Michael Gwarisa The technical advisory team also called for the urgent development of COVID-19 vaccines that have high impact on prevention of infection and transmission, in addition to the prevention of severe disease and death, are needed and should be developed so as to reduce the need for booster doses. Until such vaccines are available, and as the…