Category: BREAKING NEWS

#EXCLUSIVE: Pharmacies Defy Official US$1: RTGS$2, 50 Rate

Healthtimes

MOST pharmacies in Harare are still using the black market foreign currency exchange rate shunning the official rate of US$1: RTGS$2, 5, HealthTimes has established. By Kudakwashe Pembere In a survey around the city’s pharmacies, the publication discovered that they were charging between the range of US$1 as to RTGS$4 and RTGS$4,50. Most pharmacies even hiked the prices of their medicines in the US$. Asked about  the monetary policy view as presented by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangundya, a pharmacist said it was about time they conceded…

Read More

Zim Gets Advanced Tech To Test HIV In Infants…Results Come Out Within Hours

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE has to date received at least 10 SAMBA machines meant for early diagnosis of HIV in infants, a move set to speed up detection of HIV in new born babies and children. By Michael Gwarisa The SAMBA HIV testing technology comes at a time Zimbabwe is making inroads towards eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV and the new technology will aid in detecting the virus early making it easy to initiate the young ones on anti-retro viral medicines. Officiating at the Handover Ceremony of 10 SAMBA machines to…

Read More

Zim Female Journalist Nominated For Martial Arts Award

Healthtimes

PROMINENT Zimbabwe Journalist, Grace Chirumhanzu has been nominated for the prestigious Annual Sports Awards (ANSA) following her victorios Karate exploits. By Michael Gwarisa Through her Twitter and Facebook accounts, Chirumhanzu said being a women should nor stop any women from dreaming big and achieving greatness. “I have been nominated for the Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA) Sportswoman of the Year. This is alongside amazing sportswomen Kudakwashe Memory Chiwandire, a fellow karateka and Chess Queen Paidaishe Zengeni. The Awards dinner is on March 1. “I have always wanted to see how…

Read More

Zim Requires 173 Million Condoms Per Year

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE requires about 173 million male and female condoms annually to meet demand, a Ministry of Health and Childcare official said on Thursday. By Kudakwashe Pembere For this year, the country with a population of about 16 million received about 136 million condoms. Addressing a High level Advocacy Meeting for Comprehensive Condom Programming in Zimbabwe Health and Childcare Deputy Director of AIDS and STIs,  Dr Tsitsi Apollo said in 2017, the country used over half of the needed amount.  With Wednesday being the International Condom Day, the meeting was a…

Read More

UNAIDS Appoints New Deputy Executive Director of Programme

Healthtimes

UNITED Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Shannon Hader as the new Deputy Executive Director of Programme of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. “Shannon is an exceptional leader in AIDS and TB—with extensive experience in improving systems for health,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “From Washington DC to Zimbabwe she understands the epidemic and the response needed at the community, country and global levels—her vision and knowledge will be critical for UNAIDS and to ending AIDS by 2030.” Dr…

Read More

USAID Announces $12 Mln Cancer Prevention Fund For Sub Saharan Africa

Healthtimes

THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, will dedicate $12 million to support the expansion of programs, to prevent cervical cancer in the Republics of Malawi and Mozambique through integrated programs to improve women’s health. Cervical cancer is an outcome of infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). To reduce cervical cancer in Malawi and Mozambique, USAID will fund activities through the following partnerships: accelerating the introduction of a screen-and-treat strategy for HPV and cervical pre-cancerous lesions in…

Read More

MCAZ Raises Red Flag Over Bronclear

Healthtimes

BRONCLEAR is illegal and is not registered in Zimbabwe, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has warned. By Michael Gwarisa The warning comes at the back of increased cases of abuse of the medicine by most young unemployed Zimbabweans. The cough syrup drug which finds its way into the country through the porous borders has also claimed lives of many young people while some have been permanently admitted into psychiatric centres. “BronClear is unregistered in Zimbabwe. As such it is illegal. It is time to take action. “As MCAZ,…

Read More

#JUSTIN: Monetary Policy To Determine New Fees Structure- ZIMA

Healthtimes

THE monetary policy will conclusively mould the new pricing regime by medical professionals, a Zimbabwe Medical Association official has said.   By Kudakwashe Pembere This comes in the wake of fears that doctors would charge exhorbitant fees for consultation and reviews. A ZIMA Mutare Branch a fortnight ago had come up with its tariffs starting from US$30 for consultation fees. ZIMA national spokesperson Dr Sacrifice Chirisa told HealthTimes in an interview that consultations are underway to come up with an ultimate tariff regime. “Discussions are still underway and it was…

Read More

Medical Aid Fees Go Up

Healthtimes

MEDICAL aid societies under the banner of the Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) have agreed to up the fees payable to healthcare service providers with effect from today (Monday 11 February 2019). This comes as private healthcare service providers last year moved to start charging their patients in United States   dollars. However, the increases, AHFoZ said, only apply to Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. According to a statement by AHFoZ, payments to hospitals have been increased by 30 percent. And those paid to all other service providers,…

Read More

Econet Tops Up US$60 million For Cholera Fight

Healthtimes

ECONET Wireless’ social impact organization, Higher Life Foundation has availed another US$60 million towards the cholera response. By Kudakwashe Pembere This is supplementary to the US$10 million Econet Zimbabwe donated when the cholera outbreak broke out. The money will be used over the next five years. “The family foundation of Econet founders Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa is committing an additional US$60 million towards the cholera response in Zimbabwe. This comes on the back of an initial $10 million investment by Econet Zimbabwe at the onset of the cholera outbreak in…

Read More