Category: BREAKING NEWS

Fragile Health Systems Expose Africa To Untold Climate Change Disasters Says AMREF

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa For a long time, discourse on climate change has revolved around the effects of Climate Change on the environment in particular air pollution, an issue most prevalent in the Global North. Very little focus was being given to the impact of climate change on the health and well-being of the human population. However, for the first time in many years, African health Ministers and their counterparts from around the world converged in Dubai for the COP28 where they delivered a strong message regarding the impact climate change…

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ARASA unveils 2033 Health and Rights report

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to uncover and address the shrinking civil space and funding gaps for Sexual Reproductive health, HIV, and Tuberculosis programming in the Southern African regional, ARASA has launched it’s 2033 Health and Rights report. The report was launched this week on the sidelines of the 22nd Edition of the International Conference on Aids and STIs in Africa (ICASA). ARASA director, Dr. Ntombi Muchuchuti said the report was in synch with the ICASA theme for 2023, Let Communities Lead. “The report is an analysis and assessment…

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More than US$ 1.8 billion in support for African vaccine manufacturing, catching up missed children and pandemic preparedness approved as Gavi Board steps up efforts to tackle backsliding and fight health emergencies

Healthtimes

Gavi’s Board today approved the establishment of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), a financing instrument that will make up to US$ 1 billion available to support sustainable vaccine manufacturing in Africa Efforts to translate pandemic learnings into concrete action further include the establishment of a US$ 500 million First Response Fund to ensure immediate financing for vaccine response in the event of a future pandemic, as well as extraordinary support for countries to close routine immunisation gaps created during the COVID-19 pandemic The Board approved the inclusion of the…

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2023 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey Launched

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in collaboration with their strategic partner, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) has launched the 2023 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS). The ZDHS is a periodic survey conducted after five years. Zimbabwe has conducted this survey in 1988,1994, 1999, 2005/06.2010/11 and 2015, Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2023 ZDHS is the 7 th round of this survey. A total of 11 200 households will be covered during this survey and 15 survey teams were deployed on the 2nd of December…

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Zim commences Multidrug resistance TB survey to improve case detection

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe recently began a survey to sasses the burden of Multiple-drug resistance TB in the country amidst the background of low case detection, a Ministry of Health and Child Care Official said. Addressing delegates at an ICASA side event on TB, Zimbabwe’s Health ministry TB/HIV officer Mr Manners Ncube said one of the measures they are implementing to improve case detection, particularly in MDR TB is a survey. And then MDR TB case detections, 35 percent. But when you reference now to the TB in general of…

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Taxes good for increasing child budgeting for HIV says Prof Mthuli Ncube

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Minister of Finance and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube has defended his recent tax regime citing that it was one of the guaranteed means of boosting domestic financing for healthcare, especially HIV care. Professor Ncube recently announced a $58,2 trillion Budget for 2024 where he introduced new taxation on wealth and sugary beverages including alcohol starting January next year. He said the new levy on the sugar content of beverages was in response to growing concerns about the adverse effects of consumption of sugar, particularly in beverages.…

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East and Southern Africa Region records rise in new HIV infections among older women

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa While progress has been made regarding improving HIV health outcomes for Adolescent Young Women and Girls (AGYW) in the East, Southern African (ESA) region, a worrying trend shows that more new cases are now being recorded among older women aged between 25 to 34 years. HIV data shows that women are the face of HIV on the African continent, with 63 percent of all new infections in the continent being recorded in women and is even more pronounced among adolescent girls and young women. HIV infection rates…

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University of Zimbabwe secures US$45 Million USAID grant to Develop and Test New HIV Vaccines

Michael Gwarisa
Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi MBChB, MMed, Investigator of Record, HPTN-084 Zimbabwe – University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences Clinical Trials Research Centre, and HPTN Executive Committee Member

By Staff Reporter The University of Zimbabwe and regional partners have been issued a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) award of over US $45 million to implement the HIV Vaccine Innovation, Science, and Technology Acceleration in Africa (HIV-VISTA) program. This groundbreaking initiative aims to develop and test novel HIV vaccines in an 8-country African consortium, led by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) CEO and President, Prof Glenda Gray. The BRILLIANT (BRinging Innovation to cLinical and Laboratory research to end HIV In Africa through New vaccine Technology) consortium,…

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Governments should take ownership of VMMC programs says AVAC

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa To ensure the sustainability of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) programs in the face of dwindling donor support and donor fatigue, African governments have been urged to fund and promote VMMC programs. Since VMMC was recommended by WHO and the UNAIDS in 2007 as key to HIV prevention in high prevalence settings, about 35 million men have accessed services across 15 VMMC priority countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. However, since inception, VMMC programs have been largely financed by donors and Multilateral funding agencies amidst indications that…

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Condoms Galore At CONDOMIZE Stand

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to promote safe sex, reduce HIV incidence and break the stigma around condoms, SAYWHAT’s CONDOMIZE campaign is riding on the ongoing ICASA conference to distribute free condoms and raise awareness of the benefits of safe sex. Located in the community hall at the ICASA, the CONDOMIZE stand has become a hive of activity as young people from across genders, disabilities, and backgrounds are getting free condoms as well as demonstrations on the correct and consistent use of condoms. The campaign kicked off in Epworth…

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