Category: BREAKING NEWS

Sightsavers Zimbabwe Renews Mandate Under New PVO Bill, Pledges Expanded Disability Inclusion Efforts

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Harare, Zimbabwe — Sightsavers Zimbabwe has officially renewed its mandate with the Government of Zimbabwe, operating now under the country’s recently enacted Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Act. The renewal not only secures the organisation’s continued work in providing inclusive eye care but also signals a strategic expansion of its commitment to disability inclusion across Zimbabwe. Through his LinkedIn account, Peter Bere, Country Director of Sightsavers Zimbabwe, welcomed the renewal as a significant milestone. This renewal under the new PVO legislation offers us a fresh opportunity to deepen…

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Zim Commissions Modern Incinerator to Manage Medical Waste and Fight Climate Change

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere At a time when medical waste is being cited as one of the major contributors to climate change, Zimbabwe’s Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora and Ireland’s Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Neale Richmond, commissioned a state-of-the-art incinerator at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. The incinerator was installed by BoltGas with funding from the Global Fund. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) served as the implementing partner for the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Speaking after the commissioning of…

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HIPH Says Nursing Assistant Program Fully Backed by Government, Responds to Nurses Council Concerns

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Harare Institute of Public Health (HIPH) has responded to a public notice issued by the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe (NCZ), which distanced itself from any regulatory association with the institute’s training of nurses. HIPH maintains that its programs are accredited by the government under the Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) and do not fall under the mandate of the Nurses Council. In a statement released last week, the Nurses Council sought to clarify its position, stating that it neither recognises nor regulates any nursing qualifications offered…

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High Pregnancy Rates Among HIV-Positive Teens in Zimbabwe and Zambia Reveal Critical Care Gaps

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  A landmark study in Zimbabwe and Zambia has uncovered alarming pregnancy rates among adolescents living with HIV since birth, exposing urgent gaps in healthcare and social support systems. The research, conducted with 842 adolescents aged 11-19, found that pregnancy incidence reached 6.8 per 100 person-years among those aged 15 and older – a rate significantly higher than regional averages. The findings paint a concerning picture of intersecting challenges. While 92% of babies born to these young mothers tested HIV-negative thanks to effective prevention programs, only 19% of…

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One Visit, One Test, Three Results: The Triple Elimination Test Steps Up Global MTCT Fight

Healthtimes
Photo of Dr. Angela Mushavi addressing delegates at the International AIDS Conference in Kigali.

By Shamiso Yikoniko in Kigali, Rwanda A groundbreaking diagnostic tool recently prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) is set to revolutionize efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of three major infections: HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Dubbed the “Triple Elimination Test,” the innovative tool adopts a ‘one visit, one test, three results’ approach, allowing healthcare providers to screen for all three infections using just one blood sample — with results available within 20 to 30 minutes. Previously, expectant mothers in many low-resource settings had to return to clinics multiple…

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Zimbabwe to Implement New WHO HIV Guidelines

Michael Gwarisa

By Shamiso Yikoniko in Kigali, Rwanda The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated HIV prevention, treatment, and care guidelines during the 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science in Kigali, Rwanda, offering renewed hope in the global fight against HIV. Zimbabwe, home to an estimated 1.3 million people living with HIV, is expected to benefit from these new tools to bolster its already robust response to the epidemic. The revised guidelines introduce key innovations designed to simplify care, expand prevention options, and improve patient outcomes. Among the…

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Manicaland State University Triumphs in SAYWHAT’s National Varsity Debate Showdown

Michael Gwarisa

By Kuda Pembere in Nyazura Once overlooked as underdogs, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) pulled off a surprise victory at this year’s SAYWHAT Speak and Solve Initiative (SASI) Debate Tournament, outshining former champions the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Midlands State University (MSU), and Great Zimbabwe University (GZU). Just last year, MSUAS was eliminated in the early stages of the competition. This year, they led the scoreboard, followed by UZ as first runners’ up. GZU came in third, and MSU in fourth place. Speaking after the tournament, MSUAS debater…

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Children in Sudan face growing danger as cholera spreads amid funding cuts, World Vision warns

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  As Sudan battles a deadly and rapidly spreading cholera outbreak, millions of children are at grave risk. More than 700 people have died, including children, and 32,000 suspected cases have been  recorded since January 2025. The outbreak now affects 17 of the country’s 18 states, compounding the suffering of families already devastated by conflict, forced displacements, and a collapsing health system. Among the most vulnerable are 3.2 million malnourished children under the age of five, whose weakened immune systems leave them susceptible to cholera and other waterborne diseases. The…

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U.S. Senate Moves to Protect PEPFAR Funding Amid Trump-Era Cuts Threat

Michael Gwarisa

By Health Times Correspondent The International AIDS Society (IAS) has applauded a bipartisan effort in the U.S. Senate to safeguard the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from a proposed $400 million funding cut that had originated from President Donald Trump’s rescission package. However, advocates caution that the battle is far from over. Both the Senate and House of Representatives must still vote on the final budget package, and last-minute changes could emerge before the statutory deadline. PEPFAR, launched in 2003 by President George W. Bush, is widely…

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Global Leaders Come Together at IAS 2025 in Kigali

Michael Gwarisa

By Health Times Reporter in Kigali, Rwanda The 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) 2025 conference opened today in Kigali with a powerful call to action: ‘Communities must lead the fight to end HIV’. Over 5,000 scientists, activists, and policymakers gathered to celebrate scientific progress while demanding urgent investment in grassroots solutions. Rosemary Mburu, a seasoned HIV advocate, set an inspiring tone with her speech. “Before the global partnerships and wonder drugs, it was communities, armed with love and courage, who faced the darkness of the epidemic,” she stated. Emphasizing the vital role of…

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