BREAKING NEWS |

Public Health Bill To Take Longer Than Expected- Experts

October 23, 2017October 23, 2017 Healthtimes

By Daniel Phiri GAZETTING of the Public Health Bill (PHA) which is being prepared in Parliament might take longer than expected, legal watchdog Veritas Zimbabwe has said. In its Bill Watch update series dated October 20, 2017, Veritas Zimbabwe said the Bill had been taken to the government printer but was likely to take long before it is gazetted. “Parliament’s latest Status of Bills list reflects that the Public Health Bill was sent to the Government Printer on 3rd October.As this is bound to be a very long Bill that…

UK ‘disappointed’ as Robert Mugabe becomes WHO goodwill ambassador

October 21, 2017October 21, 2017 Healthtimes

SOURCE: THEGURDIAN UN body appoints Zimbabwean despot to help tackle non-communicable diseases, despite dire health crisis under his rule. The UK government has criticised the World Health Organization’s decision to appoint Robert Mugabe as a “goodwill ambassador”, calling the move “surprising and disappointing”. A Downing Street spokesman said British diplomats had raised serious concerns with the WHO director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, over the decision to offer the high-profile role to the Zimbabwean president. The UN body asked the 93-year-old, who has been in power since 1980, to help tackle non-communicable diseases…

President Mugabe Appointed WHO Ambassador

October 19, 2017 Healthtimes

HealthTimes Reporter President Robert Mugabe has been appointed the World Health Organisation (WHO) Ambassador for Africa to help governments tackle chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, cancer and heart diseases. President Mugabe will work with national and local politicians to highlight the heavy economic and health burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), United Nations health agency said. WHO director-general Tedros Ad-hanom Ghebreyesus said President Mugabe’s appointment would enable governments to “strengthen our response together” to these “major public health challenges”. NCDs and injuries are responsible for 43 million deaths each year, according…

Prof Moyo Under Fire Over HIV Comments

October 9, 2017 Healthtimes

HealthTimes Correspondent Higher and Tertiary education minister Professor Jonathan Moyo is under fire from local medical practitioners following his recent Twitter post in which he insinuated that intake of ARVs and other life saving drugs could lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Moyo’s Twitter remarks comes as a response to the ongoing drama within ZANU PF where by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is allegedly being roasted for saying he was poisoned during a Gwanda ZANU PF rally which resulted in him being airlifted to South Africa for urgent medical attention. In a statement, Zimbabwe…

Malaria Kills 436 Since January

October 5, 2017 Healthtimes

Malaria has claimed 436 lives since January 2017 with the highest cases being recorded in Mashonaland Central and Mash East provinces. According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care weekly disease surveillance report , 3 402 malaria cases and 2 deaths were reported during the week ending 24 September 2017. “The deaths were reported from Guruve district in Mashonaland Central province (1) and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe district of Mashonaland East province (1). Of the reported cases 532 (15.6%) and no deaths were from the under five of age. “The…

500 000 Lives In Danger As ARV Crisis Persists In Zimbabwe

September 27, 2017 Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa NOT less than half a million lives are at risk of developing HIV drug resistance and full blown AIDS or dying if the prevailing shortages of Anti-Retroviral (ARVs) drugs particularly the second line regiment (Abacavir) is not resolved. Speaking at a Joint Press Conference in Capital, the Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+), Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and the Diocese of Mutare Community Care Programme (DOMCCP) have bemoaned the lukewarm pace concern over the slow pace at which the ongoing shortages being resolved.…

#BREAKING: New Single Dose ARVs To Be Launched in SA, Kenya

September 24, 2017 Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa A new high quality HIV treatment therapy and pricing regime which will accelerate availability of first affordable, generic, single-pill HIV treatment regime containing doulutegravir (DTG) will soon be launched in South Africa and Kenya before being distributed to other 90 low income countries around the world. The single-pill HIV treatment will be available to public sector purchasers in at around US$75 per person, per year. UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said, “This agreement will improve the quality of life for millions of people living with HIV. “To…

#BREAKING: New antibody attacks 99% of HIV strains

September 22, 2017 Healthtimes

By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News website Scientists have engineered an antibody that attacks 99% of HIV strains and can prevent infection in primates. It is built to attack three critical parts of the virus – making it harder for HIV to resist its effects. The work is a collaboration between the US National Institutes of Health and the pharmaceutical company Sanofi. The International Aids Society said it was an “exciting breakthrough”. Human trials will start in 2018 to see if it can prevent or treat infection.…

#BREAKING: VP Msika’s Widow Dies

September 22, 2017September 22, 2017 Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa LATE Vice President Joseph Msika’s widow, Mrs Maria Msika has died, she was 89. Mrs Msika suffered a stroke more than a decade ago and has been in and out of hospital on countless occasions. HealthTimes is still to ascertain details of her death and funeral details but impeccable sources however confirmed the development…. More Details to follow….