BREAKING NEWS |

New coalition Commit To Fight Neglected Tropical Diseases across Africa

August 19, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

AFRICAN Media Agency (AMA)/- Civil society organisations (CSOs) have joined together in Dakar, Senegal, to create Africa’s first civil society network for Neglected Tropical Diseases – the Civil Society Says No to NTDs Coalition. This coalition will provide a network for CSOs to consult and collaborate to maximise their efforts in fighting Neglected Tropical Diseases, particularly around their aim of increasing sustainable funding for NTD control programs. The new civil society coalition was formed to enable member CSOs to take NTD control and elimination into their own hands to save…

Crippling Doctors Strike Looms

August 14, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

DOCTORS have warned government to review their earnings according to the prevailing interbank market rate which is pegged at 8.7% or risk another industrial action which could cripple the health sector. By Michael Gwarisa This comes at the back of erosion of doctors and civil servants salaries by inflation which is currently hovering above 176% according to June inflation rates. In a letter written to the Health Services Board (HSB) by Dr Peter Magombeyi on behalf the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), he indicated that doctors were now incapacitated and…

Aspiring Nurses Stranded As Recruitment Platform Malfunctions

August 12, 2019 Healthtimes

ASPIRING nurses last week had a torrid time accessing the e-Nurses recruitment website application. The platform unleashed a month ahead of schedule saw applicants failing to either upload required documents or proceed with the stipulated ZW$10 Ecocash payment. Worse yet the site was inaccessible. Efforts to get a comment from the Ministry’s Nursing Director Mrs Cynthia Chasokela were fruitless by the time of publishing as her phone went unanswered. The platform was designed by Chinhoyi University of Technology. A source who requested anonymity said nurses were failing to apply for…

Digital Nurse Recruitment Goes Live

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 Healthtimes

THE electronic recruitment of aspiring nurses in Zimbabwe to curb racketeering in schools of nursing is now up and running with advertisements expected to come out on Sunday. By Kudakwashe Pembere In the past, nurses would apply using application letters which saw some hospital officials manipulate the process and cash in large sums of money from desperate ambitious nurses. Speaking to journalists at the Harare Central Hospital on Friday, Health and Child care Minister said they came up with this initiative following corruption issues linked to the application of places…

Zim Among Countries With High HIV Drug Resistance- WHO

August 1, 2019August 1, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE is among one of the 18 countries that recorded HIV drug resistance above 10% percent amidst indications that more women showed resistance to first line regimens efavirenz/nevirapine. In the SADC region, South Africa tops the list with a 23.6% Pretreatment Drug Resistance (PDR) to efavirenz/nevirapine followed by Namibia which has a 13.8% PDR to EFV/NVP while Zimbabwe has 10.9% PDR to EDF/NVP. However, national guidelines in all these countries have been revised to include the use of DTG as preferred first-line ART for adults and adolescents (in women and girls…

#BREAKING: Gvt Repeals Section 40 Of The Marriages Bill…Says We Cant Protect Civil Partnerships

July 30, 2019July 30, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT has with immediate effect revoked Section 40 of the Marriages Bill which granted civil partnerships the same rights as proper marriages. By Michael Gwarisa and Kudakwashe Pembere During the post cabinet media briefing, Information minister, Hon Monica Mutsvangwa announced their decision to remove the controversial section following its misinterpretations by the public as it contradicted the country’s religious etiquette. “Cabinet also sought clarification from the Minister of Justice Legal and Parliamentary affairs on the import of Section 40 of the Marriage Amendment Bill currently before Parliament. Following the explanation…

Mushambadope Appointed CIMAS MD

July 27, 2019 Healthtimes

MR Martin Mushambadope has been appointed CIMAS Medical Aid managing director. He fills in the gap left by the late Mr Washington Madziwadondo.who passed on in a tragic accident in March this year. “Cimas is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Martin Mushambadope as the Managing Director of Cimas Medical Aid. He comes to join us with a wealth of experience in health insurance, Telecoms, IT, Banking and finance,” CIMAS said in a tweet. Mr Musambadope in January this year resigned from Liquid Telecom where he was deputy managing…

Zim Prepared To Deal With Ebola- Gvt

July 24, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE just like any other country in the region, is not safe from the Ebola outbreak which has already been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO), a top government official has said. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Agnes Mahomva said Zimbabwe takes the WHO Ebola warning seriously. We stand very much guided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) we know they are a strong technical arm of the world…

Corruption Reigns Supreme In Zim’s Health Sector-Report

July 23, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) has revealed shocking details of the endemic corruption which has eaten deep into Zimbabwe’s health sector. By Michael Gwarisa An assessment carried out by ACT-SA indicates that Medical practitioners in the employ of the government also operate private businesses (clinics, hospital and surgeries) and are accused of spending more time at their private businesses than at government hospitals amongst a host of other ills. Mr. David Jamali, the Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) urged the Government of Zimbabwe to…

Dolutegravir Now Safe For All Women: WHO

July 23, 2019 Healthtimes

THE World Health Organisation says it is now safe to use dolutegravir as a preferred antiretroviral drug on all populations including pregnant women and those of childbearing potential following new evidence assessing benefits and risks By Kudakwashe Pembere Initial studies highlighted a possible link between DTG and neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain and spinal cord that cause conditions such as spina bifida) in infants born to women using the drug at the time of conception. This caused some scepticism of the drug. This potential safety concern was…