Category: BREAKING NEWS

Researchers Not Giving Up On Imbokodo HIV Vaccine Study

Healthtimes

PERSISTENT researchers feel the halted HTVN 702 study on the efficacy of an HIV vaccine will not affect the Imbokodo Vaccine Trial study launched in 2017. By Kudakwashe Pembere HVTN  702 study was stopped following an interim analysis conducted on 23 January 2020 by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) that reviews all data regularly to ensure the safety of participants and determine if the study should continue. The DSMB assessment concluded that the experimental vaccine regimen used in the trial did not prevent HIV infection. The vaccine…

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Shortened DR TB Treatment Offers Ray Of Hope For TB Patients

Michael Gwarisa

A Study by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) shows long-term effectiveness for shortened DR-TB treatment regimen up to 24 months after treatment completion Results from a Union-led observational study (1) published in The Lancet’s EClinicalMedicine, show that a nine-month shortened treatment regimen for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) delivered to patients under programmatic conditions maintains a good level of effectiveness up to 24 months after completion. Until now there has been limited data on the long-term effectiveness of this treatment regimen after completion. The study reports on…

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Breaking: Zim Acquires Latest Coronavirus Testing Technology

Michael Gwarisa

REAGENTS and test kits for identifying the 2019 Wuhan Novel Coronavirus are now in country, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said on Monday. By Kudakwashe Pembere Previously, the country relied on South Africa to test for the 2019 n-CoV.Zimbabwe has the equipment required for this feat housed at the National Health Laboratory Services at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Mpilo Victoria Falls Airport. The reagents are in country, this is what we are saying. Besides that we are sourcing kits for the rapid testing which takes 15 minutes.…

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Five Die In Byo, As Prophets Order Them To Stop Taking ARVs

Michael Gwarisa

AT least five people died in Bulawayo in the period leading to the 2019 festive season following indications that they had discontinued taking Antiretroviral medications at their prophets’ orders, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Bulawayo The revelation came into the open when members of various HIV and AIDS support revealed that they stumbled upon stashes of Antiretroviral treatment drugs in the deceased’s’ rooms while some had publicly confessed that they had been ordered to stop taking their medications by their pastors and prophets. National Aids Council Bulawayo…

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Zim Readies Global Fund Proposal

Healthtimes

WITH Zimbabwe’s Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) approving the proposed budget outline, the country should submit its proposal for the Global Fund grant by March 23, 2020, HealthTimes has learned. By Kudakwashe Pembere In an update for the country concept note development for the Global Fund To Fight TB, HIV and Malaria Grant 2021 to 2023 seen by this publication, the final draft should be undergoing review starting March. The writing exercise is on-going, with the country expected to submit the proposal on the 23rd March 2020, with the…

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Zim’s New Cancer Treatment Guidelines To Be Published This Year

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S Health and Child Care Ministry is closeto completing latest national cancer treatment (oncology) guidelines at primary care levels with publishing expected this year. By Kudakwashe Pembere In an interview with University of Zimbabwe head of radiotherapy and oncology Dr Ntokozo Ndlovu involved in the review of the guidelines last done in 1992, she said work started and is expected to be completed this year. In terms of where we are in the stage of development in this stage of guidelines, we are almost there. Most of the chapters have…

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#BREAKING: Blood Transfusion Breakthrough, Now Your Own Blood Can Be Recycled In Emergencies

Healthtimes

A new surgical  autotransfusion device called  Hemafuse is set to revolutionize blood access across Africa, HealthTimes has learnt. African Correspondent Hemafuse is designed to salvage and recycle whole blood from cases of internal bleeding. The device can be used in both emergencies and scheduled procedures to recover blood from where it pools inside of a patient, into a blood bag, where it is immediately available to be re-transfused back to that same patient. Hemafuse was created for patients suffering from internal bleeding resulting from trauma, ruptured ectopic pregnancies, or for…

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Dedicates Additional Funding to the Novel Coronavirus Response

Healthtimes

SEATTLE, February 5, 2020 – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced that it will immediately commit up to $100 million for the global response to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The funding will help strengthen detection, isolation and treatment efforts; protect at-risk populations; and develop vaccines, treatments and diagnostics. The new funding is inclusive of $10 million the foundation committed to the outbreak in late January. “Multilateral organizations, national governments, the private sector and philanthropies must work together to slow the pace of the outbreak, help countries protect…

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#BREAKING: Higher Life Foundation Responds To Nurses

Healthtimes

LOBBYING for salaries from Higher Life Foundation (HLF), Strive Masiyiwa’s humanitarian organisation says they are currently seized with “assisting significantly in transportation of nurses.” By Kudakwashe Pembere This response comes as Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Mr Enock Dongo called on HLF to intervene with salaries as done with the doctors. Speaking to HealthTimes, HLF CEO Dr Kennedy Mubaiwa said they are working on roping in Vaya transportation for nurses at Chitungwiza Central Hospital. “So with the nurses what we’ve done which probably people are not aware of is that of…

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Zim Requires USD5, 2 million For Novel Coronavirus Preparedness

Healthtimes

WITH Zimbabwe yet to have a suspected nor confirmed case, the country needs about USD5, 2million for preparedness against the 2019 Wuhan novel coronavirus. By Kudakwashe Pembere Coordinator of Public Health Emergencies in the Health and Child Care Ministry Dr Isaac Phiri told the interministeral meeting on the 2019 novel coronavirus that the goal for Zimbabwe’s preparedness plan for Zimbabwe is to reduce morbidity and mortality due to coronavirus in the event the virus comes. “What we need to do is to specifically coordinate an effective multisectoral response, enhance surveillance…

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