Category: BREAKING NEWS

PSZ takes SRH services to Madziwa’s doorstep

Michael Gwarisa

By Kuda Pembere recently in Madziwa On Wednesday, November 27, Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ) delivered crucial Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services to Shamva District in Mashonaland Central under a project titled Self-Care. Scores of people gathered at the PSZ tent, where the organization provided free reusable pads to school-aged children and jadelle implants to adolescents and young women aged 10 to 24 years. The Self-Care project, funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) under the Safeguarding Young People program, is supported by the Swiss Development Cooperation and the Embassy…

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#Breaking: Newly Elected WHO Afro Regional Director Dies

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  The Speaker of Tanzania’s National Assembly, Dr. Tulia Ackson, has confirmed the passing of Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, a member of Parliament in Tanzania and newly elected World Health Organization African Region Director. Dr Ndunguile was Member of Parliament for Kigamboni and had been undergoing medical treatment in India. He died on the night of November 27, 2024. Reacting to the deaths through his X account, WHO Director, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the  Director-General of the World Health Organization said,  “Shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the…

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MCAZ Recalls Defective Batch of YAZ Plus Contraceptives Over Quality

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has announced a Class II recall of a batch of YAZ Plus contraceptive tablets due to a quality defect that could compromise their efficacy and pose risks to patients. The recall affects YAZ PLUS TABLETS, REG. NO.: 2022/21.2.1/6235, BATCH: WEW961J, manufactured by Bayer (Pty) Ltd. South Africa. According to MCAZ, the defective packs contain an incorrect configuration of tablets: 24 light orange hormone-free tablets and 4 pink hormone tablets, instead of the required 24 pink hormone tablets and 4 light…

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Conflicting Sugar Tax Figures Spark Debate Over Transparency and Utilization

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere The implementation of the sugar tax introduced last year by Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has raised concerns about the authenticity and transparency of the tax collection figures. In his 2023 budget presentation, Professor Ncube proposed a sugar tax on sweetened beverages, sparking mixed reactions across sectors. Initially set at US$0.002 per gram, the levy faced strong opposition from industry players, who cited potential negative impacts on business viability and job security. As a result, the tax was reduced to US$0.001 per gram in February 2024. Government…

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Zimbabwe’s INTEGRATE Program Marks Milestone: Over 150,000 Circumcisions Achieved in HIV Prevention Push

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Over 150,000 men and boys have undergone circumcision under the INTEGRATE-Catalyzing Integrated Sustainable Subnational HIV Biomedical Prevention Program, an initiative aimed at enhancing decentralized biomedical HIV prevention services in Zimbabwe. The program, implemented by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) with technical support from Population Services International (PSI) and Population Solutions for Health (PSH), was catalyzed by funding from the Gates Foundation. Launched in November 2020, the INTEGRATE project was designed to run for four years and is set to conclude by the end of…

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Zimbabwe’s First Bereavement Suite for Grieving Mothers Opens at Parirenyatwa Hospital

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a groundbreaking effort to provide mental health support and comfort to parents grieving the loss of a child at birth, a local mental health organization, Someone Always Listens To You (S.A.L.T), has refurbished and established a grieving room at the Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Wing of Parirenyatwa Hospital. According to Zimbabwean mental health statistics, one in four women may experience mental health challenges related to pregnancy and childbirth. Despite this, mental health services in the country remain severely underdeveloped. Officiating at the handover event for the bereavement…

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Don’t sit on the toilet for more than 10 minutes, doctors warn

Healthtimes

  CNN  —  Let’s be honest — people have a habit of bringing their phones to the bathroom. I’ve been guilty of it myself, and chances are that someone is on the toilet reading this article right now. A three-minute trip to the loo can easily turn into 15 minutes of reading, scrolling and posting. It might seem a harmless way to pass the time when you’re going number two. However, experts warn that what they call prolonged sitting on the toilet can harm your health. It’s even been connected…

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MSF Secures CAB LA Doses For Zimbabwe and Three Other African Countries

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has secured a limited supply of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), a groundbreaking HIV prevention medication, following months of negotiations with Viiv, its sole manufacturer. The initial rollout is set to begin later this year in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Eswatini. To prepare for this rollout, MSF conducted a four-day training workshop for clinicians, nurses, and future implementers. The training aimed to build capacity among healthcare workers to effectively administer CAB-LA and integrate it into HIV prevention efforts. Dr. Gerald Hangaika, from MSF’s Mbare…

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Zimbabwe Considers Cost Recovery Strategy For Family Planning Products

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Amid growing donor fatigue and declining international support, Zimbabwe is pursuing a cost recovery framework for contraceptive commodities to ensure the sustainability and accessibility of reproductive health services. Spearheaded by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and other partners, this initiative aims to maintain progress in reproductive health despite diminishing external funding. Like many nations dependent on donor contributions, Zimbabwe is seeking strategies to sustain its family planning programs. The proposed cost recovery framework intends…

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No New Taxes To Be Introduced Under National Health Insurance

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Funds for Zimbabwe’s soon-to-be-implemented National Health Insurance (NHI) will be drawn from existing taxes and various sectors to minimize the financial burden on citizens, a senior government health economist has revealed. The principles of Zimbabwe’s NHI Fund have been approved by the Cabinet. This fund will pool resources from multiple sources into a single account, which will then finance the essential health services package. Targeted funding sources include local authority contributions, earmarked levies, health bonds, the Assisted Medical Treatment Order (AMTO), state contributions, portions of the War…

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