Category: BREAKING NEWS

Ghanaian Pharmacist, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko Appointed Director General of the African Medicines Agency

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Dr. Delese Mimi Darko has been appointed as the new Director General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), marking a pivotal step toward strengthening health regulation and ensuring access to quality-assured medicines across Africa. With nearly three decades of experience in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, she brings deep expertise and a proven track record in medicine safety, regulation, and international collaboration. Beginning her career as a pharmacist, Dr. Darko later earned a Master’s in Business Administration. Her regulatory journey has spanned 28 years, during which she…

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Zimbabwe’s NAC Boosts Lifesaving Kidney Care for People Living with HIV

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  In a landmark move, the National AIDS Council (NAC) has stepped in to support Zimbabwe’s growing renal care burden, particularly for People Living with HIV (PLHIV), by funding essential dialysis services at Parirenyatwa Hospital. The intervention comes amid growing concern about the hidden epidemic of kidney failure among people on lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART). While ART has significantly extended lives, long-term use is now linked with a sharp rise in chronic kidney disease. At the heart of the initiative is the recognition that PLHIV, often overlooked in…

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WCoZ Launches Women with Disabilities Forum

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a landmark stride toward inclusivity and gender equality, the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) has officially launched the Women with Disabilities Forum—a transformative platform aimed at amplifying the voices and rights of women and girls with disabilities across Zimbabwe. Presiding over the launch, WCoZ National Coordinating Committee (NCC) Chairperson, Muchanyara Cynthia Mukamuri, hailed the occasion as a pivotal moment in the fight for equal rights and full participation of all women, regardless of physical ability. This launch is not just a ceremonial event,” Mukamuri said. “It’s…

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WHO on alert over new COVID variant

Michael Gwarisa

The World Health Organization recommends that countries remain vigilant and monitor the evolution of variants, particularly to avoid overwhelming healthcare systems, and advises maintaining active vaccination. This new variant has already led to a rise in cases in Europe and the United States. According to Julio Lopez, a virology expert, “the data available so far suggests that NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and partially evade the immunity resulting from previous infections or vaccination.” The main symptoms are fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, congestion or runny nose,…

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Zimbabwe Makes Gains in Reducing Maternal Mortality, but Challenges Persist

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Zimbabwe has recorded a significant drop in maternal deaths, according to new data from the 2023–24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), offering a rare moment of optimism for a country grappling with chronic healthcare challenges. The survey, released on June 2 at Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare, shows that the maternal mortality ratio has declined from 462 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 363 in 2024—a reduction of nearly 21 percent. Government officials, development partners, and public health experts welcomed the findings as evidence…

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Pain Matters: Haleon Kenya launches Pain Management Institute

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  Haleon, a global leader in consumer health, is proud to announce the launch of its transformative Pain Management Institute (HPMI) in Kenya. The Institute delves deeper into the management of pain and includes key experts bringing a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing the determinants of, and solutions to, pain. What our research is showing is that pain is rarely just physiological. Those living with pain often feel isolated, misunderstood, and worse, unheard. With a third of the world’s population in pain every day, we must devise…

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Africa Faces 95% Mpox Vaccine Gap Amid Delayed Global Support

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Africa is facing a critical shortfall in Mpox vaccine supply, with only 219,000 doses available out of the 6.4 million needed by August 2025 — a gap of more than 95%, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in 2022, vaccine access across the continent remains alarmingly low, raising concerns of a repeat of the COVID-19 vaccine inequity crisis. Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, Chief Advisor to the Africa…

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Nestlé Injects US$7 Million into Zimbabwe Cereal Production

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  Nestlé has today announced a US$7 million investment to boost its cereal manufacturing capacity in Harare, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s position as a key regional hub for breakfast cereal production across Eastern and Southern Africa. The strategic upgrade, which includes the installation of a fourth roller dryer for Nestlé CEREVITA, is set to increase the factory’s output by over 35%, facilitating greater supply to both domestic and export markets, including Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. According to Nicole Roos, Managing Director and Chairperson of Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region,…

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Zimbabwe to Host Groundbreaking AI and Health Workshop Next Week at University of Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  Zimbabwe is set to host a high-profile three-day workshop next week focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and health, with the aim of building local capacity and sparking innovation to address pressing healthcare challenges. Running from Tuesday, 3 June to Thursday, 5 June 2025, the “Artificial Intelligence for Health in Zimbabwe: Building Capacity, Inspiring Innovation” event will take place at the University of Zimbabwe’s Centre for Postgraduate Studies at the Innovation Hub. The workshop will bring together leading experts in health, AI, and data science…

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New Form of Diabetes Recognised as Type 5 by Global Health Experts

Michael Gwarisa

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has officially designated malnutrition-related diabetes as “type 5 diabetes”, marking a significant step in addressing a long-overlooked health condition. The decision was made on 8 April 2025 during the IDF’s World Diabetes Congress in Bangkok, Thailand. This recognition aims to raise awareness of a disease that disproportionately affects young people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). First described in Jamaica in 1955, malnutrition-related diabetes is distinct from both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It primarily affects young men with a body mass index (BMI) below…

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