Category: BREAKING NEWS

Zim Health Workers Slam Draconian Health Services Law

Michael Gwarisa

ORGANIZATIONS representing healthcare workers in Zimbabwe have lampooned the recently approved Health Services Act, which they believe will only worsen the situation for ordinary health seeking citizens as it will trigger fresh exodus of skilled health personnel into lucrative markets. By Michael Gwarisa The new law will see health workers who call for industrial action being liable to a fine not exceeding level 4 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment. In an interview with HealthTimes, Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA)…

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Merck Foundation Announces Winners For Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit Awards 2022

Michael Gwarisa

• Merck Foundation announced the winners of Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS Awards winners 2022, 7 Researchers from 7 different African Countries recognized for two categories – Best African Women Researchers and Best Young African Researchers. • Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS 2022 Awards was in partnership with African Union Scientific Technical Research Commission. • Merck Foundation also announces the Call for Applications for Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS Awards 2023 to empower Women and Youth in STEM in Africa with special focus on…

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Zimbabwe Signs Tough Health Services Bill Into Law…Health Workers Who Call For Strike To Be Jailed 6 Months

Michael Gwarisa

DESPITE widespread condemnation of the Health Services Bill at consultation level, Zimbabwe has proceeded to sign the controversial Health Services Act into law. By Staff Reporter According to the new law, any individual who is a member of the governing body of any trade union or representative body of members of the Health Service which incites or organises any collective job action contrary to subsection shall be guilty of any an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 4 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six…

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A child or youth died once every 4.4 seconds in 2021 – UN report

Healthtimes

Another 1.9 million babies were tragically stillborn during the same period, according to a separate UN report.   NEW YORK/GENEVA/WASHINGTON D.C., 10 January 2023 – An estimated 5 million children died before their fifth birthday and another 2.1 million children and youth aged between 5–24 years lost their lives in 2021, according to the latest estimates released by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). In a separate report also released today, the group found that 1.9 million babies were stillborn during the same period. Tragically,…

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HIV Related Cancers On The Decline In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

NEW data released by the Zimbabwe Cancer Registry (ZCR) shows a decline in HIV related cancers owing to increased coverage cancer screening services coupled with other HIV treatment and care services countrywide. By Michael Gwarisa According to the latest Zimbabwe Cancer Registry Report which looked at the Pattern of Cancer in Zimbabwe, the total number of new cancer cases recorded among Zimbabweans of all races (including non-melanoma skin cancer) in 2018 was 7 841 comprising 3 301 (42.1%) males and 4 540 (57.9%) females. While over 7000 new cases of…

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South Africa records first case of most transmissible XBB.1.5 Covid variant

Healthtimes

South Africa has found its first case of a coronavirus infection caused by the new, highly transmissible XBB.1.5 variant. Maria Van Kerkhove, Covid-19 technical lead at the World’s Health Organization, this week called XBB.1.5 “the most transmissible sub-variant” detected so far in the pandemic. Nicknamed the “kraken variant” by some for its ability to spread, so far there hasn’t been significant differences in severity identified between cases caused by XBB.1.5 and those from other variants. The WHO plans an updated assessment on the variant’s risks in the coming days. Read…

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UNAIDS welcomes Kenya’s High Court judgement in landmark case of involuntary sterilization of women living with HIV

Michael Gwarisa

UNAIDS welcomes the judgement by the High Court of Kenya at Nairobi recognizing that coerced sterilization of women living with HIV is a violation of their human rights. The judgement follows a case brought forward in 2014 by a Kenyan woman living with HIV who was coerced by professionals at a health facility to undergo tubal ligation thus taking away her ability to have children. The High Court found that the performance of this operation without consent amounted to a violation of her rights to non-discrimination, to dignity, to health…

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Bad Start For PSMI As It Closes More 153 Clinics

Healthtimes

PSMI Leaves Clients Stranded, Shuts 153 Clinics As Workers Down Tools Private healthcare provider Premier Services Medical Investments (PSMI)’s 153 clinics across the country have closed after workers downed tools citing incapacitation. NEWSDAY This was confirmed by PSMI Employee Works Committee chairman Munyaradzi Nharaunda, who told NewsDay that workers have had several fruitless engagements with their employer. Yes, we have downed tools nationwide. The workers were willing to engage, but the employer was not. The last we engaged them, they said they didn’t have anything. We can get back if…

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Omicron Sub Variants Make Up 97.5% Of All New COVID-19 Cases In China

Michael Gwarisa

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) which was recently in China to investigate the surge in new COVID-19 cases, has reported that Omicron still accounts for majority of infections together with its sub-variants BA.5.2 AND BF.7. By Michael Gwarisa The TAG-VE meets regularly to review the latest scientific evidence on circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and advises WHO on whether a change in public health strategies is warranted. The TAG-VE met on 3 January 2023 to discuss the COVID-19 situation in mainland China. During the meeting,…

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Zimbabwe Records 5 000 COVID-19 Cumulative Deaths

Kuda Pembere

Over 5 000 people in Zimbabwe succumbed to COVID-19 related illnesses from the first death recorded on March 23, 2020 to the last day of 2022. By Kuda Pembere During the period under discussion, 260 146 cases were identified since the first case discovered on March 20, 2020. Recovery-wise, 254 067 have recovered between March 2020 to December 31, 2022. As of today (31 December 2022), Zimbabwe has recorded 260 146 Cases, 254 067 recoveries and 5 639 Deaths,” read the Ministry of Health and Child Care COVID-19 situation update…

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