BREAKING NEWS |

Civil Society, NAC Meet Senators To Discuss Age Restrictions To SRHR Access

September 15, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

A consortium of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) together with the National AIDS Council (NAC yesterday met senators to deliberate on issues hindering young people from accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services. By Michael Gwarisa The consortium dubbed the Access Task-force consists of various civil society organizations which include Advocacy Core Team, Right Here Right Now (RHRN), The PITCH Consortium, SHR Africa Trust (SAT), Youth Advocate Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Young Positives, Youth Engage, My Age and other youth affiliated organizations that have come on board to sign the petition…

UZ Commences Production Of Swabs For Collecting COVID-19 Samples

September 14, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE university of Zimbabwe (UZ) in partnership with a local company have begun manufacturing swabs which will used in collecting COVID-19 samples as the country moves towards increasing testing levels. By Michael Gwarisa In media brief, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa said the swabs have been submitted to the Ministry of Health and Child Care and to Natpharm for quality assurance tests. Additionally, Government continues to make strides in ensuring that the country’s preparedness and response plans are upgraded. As part of the efforts to boost…

Zim A Level Girl Ventures Into Sex Work To Raise Tuition and University Funds

September 14, 2020September 14, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

FOR 18-year-old Mercy (not real name), life took a twist soon after completing her Ordinary Level studies in 2018 in Chivhu. Having bagged 10 ‘O’ level subjects including Mathematics, English, and science subjects, Mercy enrolled for Advanced level at the same school she did her ‘O’ levels. By Michael Gwarisa After government announced closure of schools in March following confirmation of COVID-19 in the country, Mercy moved to Harare to live with her unemployed sister with the aim of raising fees for her final term as well as enroll for…

WHO supports Ministry of Health Train Mass Drug Admin Implementers Against Schistosomiasis & Soil Transmitted Helminths in Mash Central

September 12, 2020September 12, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) in Zimbabwe is supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) to train Mass Drug Administration (MDAs) implementers in preparation for the 2020 Schistosomiasis (SCH) and Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH)MDAs campaign. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking to HealthTimes, WHO Communications Officer, Tatenda Chimbwanda said WHO was supporting Mount Darwin and Shamva get ready for these, the SCH/ STH Mass Drug Administration campaign in these two districts in Mash Central. “The province will conduct the MDA from 21 to 30 September 2020. The training for MDA…

ZADHR Donates To Masvingo City Council COVID-19 Fight

September 11, 2020 Healthtimes

THE Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human rights (ZADHR) has this morning September 11, 2020 made a donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) to Masvingo City Council towards the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. ZADHR also donated Covid-19 test kits, drugs and medicines as well as medical sundries.

City of Harare To Increase Refuse Collection Trucks Fleet- Mayor

September 11, 2020September 11, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

NEWLY elected Harare Mayor, Councilor (Cllr) Jacob Mafume has hinted that the local authority is working on increasing the fleet of garbage collection vehicles in order to match the increasing demand for services. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking through the official City of Harare Facebook account, Cllr Mafume said the city was expanding and this has exerted pressure on the already dilapidated fleet which also needs revamping. I do understand that we have some of our trucks stuck in South Africa due to the foreign currency issue. We will try to…

Unhealthy Commodity Industries & COVID-19: Alcohol Manufactures, Fast Foods and Beverages Makers Exploit COVID-19 For Commercial Gains

September 10, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

BEER companies adapting their logos to lung icons, burger companies geo-tracking customers with the lure of lockdown freebies, and soft drink giants donating thousands of cans to the homes of struggling communities in Mexico illustrate the multitude of ways in which unhealthy commodity industries have leveraged the COVID-19 pandemic for commercial gain, a new report has exposed today, launched during the 3rd Global Week for Action on NCDs. Signalling Virtue, Promoting Harm: Unhealthy commodity industries and COVID-19, authored by the NCD Alliance and the SPECTRUM Consortium, is a preliminary exposé…

Disabled Young People Struggle To Navigate SRH Social Spaces During Lockdown

September 10, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

YOUNG people with disabilities are finding it difficult to access sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services during the prevailing lockdown period due to a myriad of factors, chief among them being failure to participate in social spaces where SRHR information is provided. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual meeting on ending teenage pregnancies which was hosted by Plan International Zimbabwe under the theme “Unraveling the thread of teenage pregnancies during COVID 19,” Social Worker with JF Kapnek, Adam Mukushi said the COVID-19 had presented numerous challenges for…

COVID-19: Children From Poorest Households Have Suffered Greatest Loss Says Latest Save The Children Survey

September 10, 2020 Healthtimes

THE COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the education of children from poorer backgrounds and is widening the gap between rich and poor and boys and girls, a new global survey by Save the Children revealed today. Save the Children conducted the largest global survey of its kind among some 25,000 children and adults on the impact of the pandemic and according to the survey, over the past six months since the pandemic was announced, the most vulnerable children have disproportionately missed out on access to education, healthcare,…

Coca-Cola Women’s Linc Donates Uniform Material and Sanitary Wear To Female Inmates

September 9, 2020September 9, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE Coca-Cola Women’s Linc Zimbabwe, a chapter comprising of female employees of Delta Corporation Limited, Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited, Mutare Bottling Company and the Zimbabwe Prisons Correctional Service has donated uniform material, sanitary wear and beverages to female prisoners in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa The donation which is valued at ZW$200,000 was raised by the organizations’ female employees from their pockets with a view of making a difference in the lives of our female. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Coca-Cola Women’s Linc Zim president Patricia Murambinda said women’s demand for health…