IN December 2019, an outbreak of a rare flue like virus was reported in China and has since infected hundreds since it was diagnosed in Wuhan, China. By Michael Gwarisa Chinese health expert and scientist who first decoded the virus believes the virus which could be a cousin to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus which killed hundreds of people a few year back could have started in animals and spread to humans. On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) was informed of a cluster of cases…
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#BREAKING: Junior Doctors Finally Accept Masiyiwa’s Offer
THE Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) has finally accepted the Higherlife Foundation mentorship offer, a move that is likely to bring some sanity to the health sector. By Michael Gwarisa In November last year at the height of the doctors strike as a result of incapacitation, the Foundation offered a ZWL100 Million, Training Fellowship for Junior and Senior Resident Medical Officers employed at Public Healthcare institutions of Zimbabwe. However most members from the ZHDA has spurned the offer saying government should come up with long lasting solution to their crisis.…
Read MoreHealth Seeking Behavior Declines As Poverty Bites Zimbabweans
HEALTH seeking behaviour in the country has been deteriorating between 2017 and 2019 owing to high poverty levels coupled with unavailability of some health services, a 2019 Mini Poverty, Income, Consumption and Expenditure Survey (PICES) report shows. By Kudakwashe Pembere Presenting the latest findings at the launch of the 2017 PICES and 2019 Mini PICES, World Bank Senior Economist Rob Swinkels said the survey was a follow upon the 2017 PICS. In 2017, the proportion of people who got sick in the past 30days for rural populace was 12percent increasing…
Read More#BREAKING: Doctors To Expand Emergency Services In Public Hospitals
SENIOR doctors have agreed to expand the emergency services mode in hospitals in a bid to ease the suffering masses. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, the Senior Doctors Association of Zimbabwe (SHDA) said the resolution was agreed on following a an exercise they carried out early this year where they went through the hospitals together with hospital managers; to inspect and physically see the restocking that had been done as well as highlighting on the state of the hospital equipment in the central hospitals around the country. The exercise…
Read MoreHow Animal Medications Are Fueling Drug Resistance In Humans
ITS 10:00 in the morning and a Harare man walks into one of the Agroshops licensed as Veterinary Medicine General Dealers in the central business district enquiring of a possible remedial solution for his dying chickens. By Kudakwashe Pembere Panting heavily and with a sad look, he tells the cashier the symptoms. Even though the attendant advises that the man takes the dead chickens for a post mortem, he proceeds to dispense some Oxytetetracycline which he says could cure the birth flue and get rid of the bacterial infection. He…
Read MoreSmoking greatly increases risk of complications after surgery
TOBACCO smokers are at significantly higher risk than non-smokers for post-surgical complications including impaired heart and lung functions, infections and delayed or impaired wound healing. HealthTimes Reporter But new evidence reveals that smokers who quit approximately 4 weeks or more before surgery have a lower risk of complication and better results 6 months afterwards. Patients who quit smoking tobacco are less likely to experience complications with anesthesia when compared to regular smokers. A new joint study by the World Health Organization (WHO), the University of Newcastle, Australia and the World…
Read MoreWomen Now Using Tobacco To Shrink Their Private Parts
WOMEN are now applying tobacco powder and other tobacco related products on their private parts in the belief that it shrinks their genitals, increase sexual pleasure and raises the odds of getting pregnant. By Michael Gwarisa The practice of applying tobacco to the lady parts is now popular in most West African countries and has also spread to other African countries including Zimbabwe. Tobacco or “miracle recipe” as it is now called in West African countries “increases sexual pleasure tenfold” or “sends a man into the seventh heaven” and this…
Read MoreDesperate Zimbos Turn To Crowd Funding For Healthcare Financing
IN a country where medical aid coverage is less than 10 percent, ordinary Zimbabweans who can’t afford medical aid cover and health insurance have found solace in crowd funding initiatives for critical surgeries and treatment for complicated ailments. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Association of Healthcare Funders Zimbabwe (AHFoZ), medical aid coverage has dropped from a high of 10 percent in 2018 to the current 9 percent, making it untenable for majority of Zimbabweans whose life savings and hard earned cash has turned into manure since August 2018 at…
Read MoreDon’t Be Fooled, We Are Not Back At Work Says Doctors
DOCTORS under the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) banner who downed tools four months ago citing incapacitation are yet to resume work despite their rival faction, the Progressive Doctors Association of Zimbabwe (PDAZ) having communicated that 450 have returned to work. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, the ZHDA said government had not shown any poltical will to resolve the impasse hence the doctors remain incapacitated to return to work and would if government heeds their call. “The situation in our hospitals remains critical. What is only remaining are buildings…
Read MoreTop Global Pharmaceutical Firms Pledge Quality Healthcare For 1.7 Million Africans
JOHNSON &JOHNSON together with other major global pharmaceutical players have joined hands with Last Mile Health and Living Goods to increase access to healthcare to community based primary healthcare for nearly 1.7 million people in not less than six African countries. HealthTimes Repoter The other firms include Lilly, Novartis (Novartis.com), Pfizer (Pfizer.com), GSK (GSK.com) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (GatesFoundation.org) and the pledge is part of their shared commitment to accelerate universal health coverage. The Health Worker Training Initiative is a three-year investment, generously matched by The Audacious…
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