Category: BREAKING NEWS

Ministry of Health Calls For September 2020 Nursing Applications

Healthtimes

Ministry of Health Calls For September 2020 Nursing Applications National eRecruitment of Registered General Nurse Training September 2020 Intake Applications for the three year Diploma in Registered General Nurse Training to be conducted by the Ministry of Health and Child Health Care (MoHCC) are invited from suitably qualified holders of the following qualifications; A minimum of 5 “O” Level subjects with passes in English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject and two others (that exclude practical subjects such as Fashion and Fabrics, Metal Work, Graphic Art, Art and Woodwork) at…

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Novartis expands Africa Sickle Cell Disease program to Uganda and Tanzania

Healthtimes

NOVARTIS and its partners have announced the expansion of the Africa Sickle Cell Disease program to East Africa with the signature of two new memoranda of understanding with the Ministries of Health of Uganda and Tanzania. HealthTimes Reporter The program, first launched in Ghana in November 2019, aims to improve and extend the lives of people with sickle cell disease (SCD) in sub-Saharan Africa, with plans to reach a total of 10 countries by 2022. In this time of worldwide uncertainty, it is even more important to support people living…

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Zim Pharmacists Warn Gvt Against Using Chloroquine & Hydroxychloroquine For COVID-19 Treatment

Michael Gwarisa

THE Pharmaceutical Society Of Zimbabwe (PSZ) has warned the ministry of health child care against distributing Chloroquine  (CQ) & Hydroxychloroquine  (HCQ) in health institutions for the purposes of COVID-19 Treatment and prevention since the products are still at clinical trial  stage and haven’t been approved for use. By Michael Gwarisa Early this week, Information minister, Honourable Monica Mutsvangwa said even though there has  not been any need for medications and drugs used to treat COVID19 patients in the country to date, in the past week, drugs that were identified in…

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Gvt Warns Teachers Conducting Private Lessons During Lockdown

Michael Gwarisa

A number of teachers have resorted to offering private lessons under the prevailing COVID-19 induced lockdown, a move which could expose learners to COVID-19 infections, a cabinet minister has warned. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing Journalists, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa said teachers offering lessons were breaking the law and will face the full wrath of the law should they be caught. In preparation for the impending opening of schools, it is pleasing to note that considerable progress has been made in vacating returnees from schools that have…

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#JUSTIN: SAZ Reduces Certification Fees For SMEs Manufacturing PPE

Michael Gwarisa

INFORMATION and broadcasting services minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa says the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) has reduced certification fees for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). By Michael Gwarisa Addressing a Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Hon Mutsvangwa said the move would encourage local manufacturing of PPEs and also improve the quality of products being produced locally. As regards to PPE production, the SAZ has reduced the certification for SMEs and government institutions. Statutory instrument 124 of 2020 was gazetted providing for consignment based conformity assessment and…

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United States increases COVID-19 funding to $18 million in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed an additional $10 million in response to COVID-19. The funds will go to the World Food Programme (WFP) for humanitarian assistance for nearly 100,000 vulnerable people in eight urban areas. With this additional funding, U.S. assistance to the COVID-19 response in Zimbabwe exceeds $18 million. USAID has provided nearly $15 million, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided $3 million, and PEPFAR has reprogrammed $150,000 to address COVID-19. Through this $10 million in…

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Gvt Distributes COVID-19 Treatment Medications Across Provincial Hospitals

Michael Gwarisa

INFORMATION and broadcasting services Minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa says government has commenced distribution of identified COVID-19 treatment medicines across the country’s provincial hospitals as part of its preparedness should the need for treatment arise. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, Minister Mtsvangwa said the distribution of COVID19 essentials including identified treatment medications was made at to all the Provincial and District medical centres over the past week. These essentials included PPEs such as aprons, face masks and theatre gowns; supplies for the screening of COVID19 such as infrared thermometers; and…

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People With Blood Group A At Higher Risk Of Severe COVID-19 Illness

Healthtimes

LAST week, a genetic study of more than 1,610 COVID-19 patients in Italy and Spain found that people with type A blood had a higher chance of developing severe respiratory failure than people with type O blood (medRxiv 2020, DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.31.20114991). The findings add support to an idea that has been developing since early in the global pandemic, that type O blood is somehow protective against the disease, while type A may make people more vulnerable. SOURCE: C&EN In the new study, researchers sequenced the genomes of COVID-19 patients in…

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Coronavirus Scorecard for Africa: Percentage of GDP earmarked for combating COVID-19

Healthtimes

Governments’ response to COVID-19 has in most cases involved earmarking a significant percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – the standard measure of a country’s productive wealth – towards fighting the pandemic. Although this is only part of most governments’ broad-spectrum policy response to the disease, it is an important measure as it indicates governments’ level of commitment to responding to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. It must be stressed, however, that different governments face different levels of severity of the pandemic and different projections (depending on a wide range…

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Naming & Shaming Quarantine Escapees Fuel COVID-19 Stigma

Michael Gwarisa

IN as much as disclosure of names and details of quarantine escapees is good for managing and controlling the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19, the practice fuels stigma and discrimination for escapees and COVID-19 affected and infected individuals, the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH)  has warned. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, CWGH Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said as an organization, they abhor the naming and shaming of people who escape from the country’s quarantine centres by government as this excerbates and entrenches stigma and discrimination against the escapees…

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