BREAKING NEWS |

Mashonaland West Pregnant Women Told To Bring Own Fuel

October 15, 2019October 17, 2019 Healthtimes

THE current power crisis and ever-rising fuel costs bedevilling Zimbabwe has left pregnant women in Mashonaland West bearing the brunt of buying fuel themselves for use during childbirth. By Kudakwashe Pembere A source who spoke on condition of anonymity told HealthTimes that women were told to bring their own fuel by health workers in the province and this been happening for a while now. “Women in some health facilities in Mashonaland West are made to buy all sundries which they cannot afford and in some facilities are made to bring…

Doctors Incapacitation Moves To Another Level… Stay Away Could Go Beyond 100 Days

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE situation in public health institutions has ground to a halt at the back of a prevailing impasse between government and doctors to resolve the prevailing labour dispute which has seen doctors leaving their work stations 43 days ago. By Michael Gwarisa The doctors’ labour action was last week declared illegal by the Labour Court which ordered them to resume their duties. However, the doctors maintain that the court order does not capacitate them and neither does it bring food to their tables. Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), acting Secretary…

Health Minister Engages Municipal Clinics

October 14, 2019October 15, 2019 Healthtimes

HEALTH and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo says they have engaged the services of Harare and Bulawayo local authority health facilities to offer health services while waiting for the doctors who withdrew their labour to return. Dr Moyo said he spoke with Harare City Health Services Dr Prosper Chonzi on this issue. He said they sent medicines to the clinics as a way of capacitating them. The Health Minister said for emergency services they are relying on the senior doctors who did not withdraw their services as consultants in…

Sanitary Pads Crisis Hit University Students

October 11, 2019October 29, 2019 Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S urban young girls feel cheated on the pricing and quality of sanitary pads being made in the country. By Kudakwashe Pembere This emerged at the launch of a Menstrual Health Promotion Campaign funded by the Swedish Embassy with the implementation done by Population Services International (PSI) Zimbabwe. Contrary to popular belief stating how menstrual products are expensive to those living in the rural areas, young girls living in the urban areas also feel the pinch. SayWhat Sexual Reproductive Health Rights advocate at the University of Zimbabwe Munashe Mhaka said university…

#BREAKING: Court Orders Doctors To Return To Work

October 11, 2019October 11, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE labour Court has told doctors to abandon the strike and resume work immediately. By Michael Gwarisa Justice Lawrence Murasi today ruled that the strike was illegal thereby asking the Zimbabwe Hospitals Doctors Association members to terminate the collective job action. “It is ordered that the collective job action engaged by members of respondent on September 3 2019 be and is hereby declared unlawful. The said collective job action be and is hereby ordered to be terminated forthwith.” Details to follow….

Govt Pours Water On Expatriate Doctors Rumour

October 9, 2019October 9, 2019 Healthtimes

The memo between Secretaries of Health and Foreign Affairs gone viral on social media about a contingent of 50 foreign doctors has by Government been dismissed as a hoax. The expatriate doctors were supposedly expected in Zimbabwe on October 13. The letter was addressed to the Foreign Affairs secretary Ambassador James Manzou. It was circulated against the background of the court battle between the doctors and Government to create an impression of trying to cover the gap left by the doctors on industrial action. In an interview, Acting Permanent Secretary…

Zim Men Only Seek HIV Services When Getting Married

October 9, 2019October 9, 2019 Healthtimes

A majority of Zimbabwean males aged between 25 and 29 seek HIV testing and counseling services towards marriage. By Kudakwashe Pembere This was said by Advocacy Core Team Coordinator Mr Chamunorwa Mashoko who referred to a United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)report while addressing a media science café organized by the Humanitarian Information Facilitation Centre (HIFC) on Wednesday. PEPFAR reports that the age group between 25 to 29 years are testing more, are initiated more on ART because they getting married and doing weddings more. So that…

Tough Time For Patients Seeking Blood Transfusion

October 9, 2019October 9, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

PATIENTS seeking blood transfusion and blood related services in public health institutions have been dealt a heavy blow following a month long doctor’s strike which has left most public health institutions without adequate staff to mann various hospitals divisions. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes, National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) Public Affairs Manager, Ms Esther Massundah said blood in all public health institutions was still free but the prevailing health crisis which has been exacerbated by the doctors incapacitation has exposed poor patients to exorbitant charges for blood…

Doctors Labour Court Case Postponed…As Gvt Presents Half-baked Evidence

October 8, 2019October 9, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

LAWYERS representing the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association’s (ZDHA) request to have the case deferred to Thursday afternoon has been granted following indications that government failed to furnish the courts with enough evidence relating to the case. By Michael Gwarisa The ZHDA through their lawyer, Mr Douglas Coltart requested for minutes from the meeting held between the Public Service,Labour and Social Welfare minister Sekai Nzenza and the ZHDA acting secretary general, Dr Twanda Zvakada which the applicant failed to submit amongst other documents. This is now the second time that the…

Govt Drags Striking DoctorsTo Court

October 8, 2019October 8, 2019 Healthtimes

GOVERNMENT later in the day takes striking doctors to court following their defiance of an order directing them to return to work. By Kudakwashe Pembere Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo had directed the striking doctors to be back at work on Monday but instead the doctors had a demonstration as they handed a letter of their exit from the health apex council. Dr Moyo in a statement said after finding the doctors had not reported for duty despite their incapacitation, Government sees it fit to drag the…