Category: BREAKING NEWS

Health Ministry Dismisses Viral Video Of Woman Claiming She Reacted To Vaccine

Michael Gwarisa

THE Bulawayo Metropolitan Provincial Medical Director (PMD),  Dr Maphios Siamuchembu has poured water on a video currently making rounds on social media of a 27 year old woman, Cleopatra Ncube from Cowdry Park in Bulawayo who claims to have developed an adverse reaction that led to her fingers and lower limbs drying up soon after getting jabbed with the Sinovac, a Chinese manufactured vaccine being administered in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa According to the viral video, Cleopatra took the vaccine on July 27, 2021 when health officials were conducting inoculations…

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Shamwari yeMwanasikana Recognizes Men Role Models

Healthtimes

Shamwari YeMwanasikana has conferred awards to male role models who champion Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and the eradication of Gender Based Violence (GBV). By Patricia Mashiri The awards were held as part of the commemorations of the 16 days of activism against gender based violence which starts on 25 November and ends on 16 December, under the theme #Oranging the world, end violence against women now. Speaking at the awards ceremony, the guest of honor Mr Stephen Nyaruwata who is the Acting Director Ministry of Women Affairs Community,…

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Zimbabwe To Phase Out Plastic Bags By December 2022

Healthtimes

THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has written to retailers and their affiliate organizations to start considering alternative carrier bags instead of plastic as they were now working on completely phasing out the use of plastic bags. Staff Reporter In a communique addressed to the Retailers Association of Zimbabwe, EMA Environmental Education and Publicity Manager, Steady Kangata said plastic has become a menace, hence the need to reduce the use of plastic. “The Environmental Management Agency is therefore taking steps towards the phase-out of plastic carrier bags. We are encouraging your…

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ZNFPC Engages Parliament Over Teen Pregnancies And Child Marriages

Healthtimes

THE Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) has met the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education where they presented challenges faced by adolescents and young people in accessing Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services. By Patricia Mashiri The meeting was a precursor to the numerous other assemblies scheduled for the no so distant future where they intend to find lasting solutions to the growing burden of early child marriages and teenage pregnancies. In her presentation,Fadzai Mandishona, the ZNFPC Programme Officer Adolescents Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) said there was need…

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Love Shouldn’t Hurt Campaign Launched

Healthtimes

THE Population Solutions for Health, an organization that spearheads innovation around Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and HIV has launched a campaign against gender-based violence called Love Shouldn’t hurt that is aimed at reducing intimate partner violence through engaging male peers to act as change makers in raising awareness against Gender Based Violence (GBV). By Patricia Mashiri Amongst the peers who have been engaged are Winky D, Holy Ten, Seh Calaz, Roki, Albert Nyathi footballer Hardlife Zvirekwi and Ammara Brown. Speaking during the launch, Honourable Jenifer Mhlanga, Deputy Minister of…

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Global leaders call for cervical cancer elimination on Day of Action

Healthtimes

New HPV vaccine prequalification aims to rectify gross inequities in access to lifesaving tools New R&D recommendations for artificial intelligence-based screening technologies New investments and commitments by the French government’s L’Initiative facility, FIND, University of Miami, WHO THE World Health Organisations (WHO) joins advocates around the world to commemorate a landmark Day of Action for Cervical Cancer Elimination and welcomes groundbreaking new initiatives to end this devastating disease, which claims the lives of over 300 000 women each year. As with COVID-19, access to lifesaving tools is constrained, with women…

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Separating Premature New Borns From Their Mothers Increases Risk Of Death In Babies

Michael Gwarisa

THE act of separating preterm or premature babies from their mothers soon after birth has been proven to have negative health implications on the growth and development of the child and in most cases a leading cause of death in preterm babies, an expert has said. By Michael Gwarisa Premature babies are babies are “born too soon” ,born before 37 weeks of gestation and according to global health  statistics, preterm birth is the leading cause of death in children under the age of five; each year, about 15 million babies…

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Zimbabwe On The Verge Of Decriminalizing HIV Transmission

Michael Gwarisa

FOLLOWING massive lobbying and advocacy from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), parliament, the media and some quasi government institutions, Zimbabwe is at the cusp of decriminalizing wilful or deliberate transmission of HIV. By Michael Gwarisa This was revealed during the launch of a Media Tool Kit on HIV criminalization by the Health Law & Policy Consortium in Harare. The decriminalization of HIV in Zimbabwe is tied to the Marriages Bill, Section 53 (2) which if enacted, will result in the repeal of Section 79 of the Criminal Law Code which criminalizes…

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Teen Pregnancies and Early Marriages Rear Ugly Head in Zim’s Farming Communities

Michael Gwarisa

IT’S a normal day inside Sable Ranch, a farming community at least 6 kilometers outside Marondera town in Mashonaland East province. Since its tobacco planting season, majority of labourers have been sent on a two-week long leave to give the tobacco plant enough time to grow. Just like their parents, school children at Ranch Farm and other surrounding farming communities are attending school just twice every week to adhere to government set COVID-19 prevention protocols. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Marondera, Mashonaland East While the adults have capitalized on the…

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