Category: BREAKING NEWS

COVID-19 Rears Ugly Head Again As WHO meets with Chinese officials on current COVID-19 situation

Michael Gwarisa

A high-level meeting took place on 30 December between WHO and China about the current surge in COVID-19 cases, to seek further information on the situation, and to offer WHO’s expertise and further support. By Michael Gwarisa High-level officials from China’s National Health Commission and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration briefed WHO on China’s evolving strategy and actions in the areas of epidemiology, monitoring of variants, vaccination, clinical care, communication and R&D. WHO again asked for regular sharing of specific and real-time data on the epidemiological situation —…

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PSH Launches “Give Me A Chance” Campaign against Early Child Marriages

Michael Gwarisa

IN a bid to end the growing burden of Early Child Marriages that have seen girls dropping out of school and widening the opportunities gap between boys and girls, the Population Solutions for Health (PSH) through funding from the Embassy of Sweden, has launched the “Give Me A Chance,” an Anti-Child Marriages campaign in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa in Zvimba Besides being a national media campaign, the “Give Me A Chance” campaign is being implemented in three districts namely Uzumba, Maramba Pfungwe (UMP), Zvimba and Rushinga in partnership with the…

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Breaking: Zim flags skin bleaching products

Kuda Pembere

ZIMBABWE’S medical products regulator, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has warned against the sale and use of unregistered skin lightening products in the country. By Kudakwashe Pembere Better known as bleaching in the public sphere, Zimbabweans have been using desperate yet unorthodox means to lighten their skin leaving them exposed to a long thread of undesired side effects. They have been administering products such as oral or injectable Glutathione and injectable Vitamins which the Authority flagged after finding no supporting guidelines for proper dosages and length of treatment.…

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Lois Chingandu appointed Interim Executive Director of Frontline AIDS

Healthtimes

Lois Chingandu will be stepping in as the Interim Executive Director of Frontline AIDS in January 2023, having successfully worked as our Director of Evidence and Influence since 2019, the Frontline AIDS has announced. Lois will be joined by Divya Bajpai, Director of Programmes and Partnerships, who will be acting as Deputy Executive Director during this interim period.  The appointments follow Christine Stegling’s move to UNAIDS as Deputy Executive Director, where she will lead the new Policy, Advocacy and Knowledge branch. UNAIDS is a vital partner in Frontline AIDS’ work,…

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SASA Project Records Gains from Partnering Chiefs in Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls

Michael Gwarisa

WHILE Chiefs have traditionally been blamed for preserving harmful cultural practices that perpetuate abuse of women and girls, the SASA project being implemented by the Zimbabwe Association of Church related Hospitals (ZACH) has managed to rope in chiefs and other traditional leaders as allies in ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in communities. By Michael Gwarisa SASA stands for Start Awareness Support Action (SASA) and ZACH is implementing the program in eight hot spot districts (Chimanimani, Mguza, Kwekwe and Umzingwane] plus 4 additional hot spot districts). Speaking during the…

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MCAZ issues directives on medicines importation by retail pharmacies

Kuda Pembere

In a bid to plug the influx of unregistered medicines while curbing their wanton importation, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) is issuing importation permits for retail, hospital pharmacies which satisfy the Authority’s requirements. By Kudakwashe Pembere Retail or community pharmacies as well as hospital pharmacies are at the bottom of the pharmaceutical supply chain having direct interface with clients. In a circular announcing this new development, MCAZ Acting Director General Mr Richard Rukwata said the Authority arrived at this decision following some pharmacies’ pleas to be given the…

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UN Launches Joint Renewable Energy Fund in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations (UN) systme in Zimbabwe comprising of various UN agencies, has launched a UN SDG- Fund Initiative  to catalyze Investment into Renewable Energy for the Acceleration of the Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa The project proposal has been jointly developed by the Government of Zimbabwe, the UN system in Zimbabwe (namely UNESCO as lead, UNWOMEN, UNDP and UNCDF). Speaking at the launch in Harare, His Excellency Edward Kallon, UN Zimbabwe Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator said the fure needs sustainable renewbale eneergy projects.…

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Public Health Association on the cards

Healthtimes

Delegates at the recently ended two-day inaugural Public Health Symposium held in Harare resolved to form an all-inclusive Public Health Association. The resolution was hailed by participants as an initiative which will advance public health agenda in Zimbabwe. Staff Reporter Addressing delegates at the symposium Mr. Adriel Badza a public Health enthusiast lamented the absence of an all-inclusive Public Health Association in the country. Gone are the days when health was a preserve of medical scientists and hospitals,” Badza said “in contemporary practice the field has broadened in recognition of…

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Illicit drug abuse on the rise among Zimbabwean Women

Michael Gwarisa

THERE has been an increase in the number of women who use and inject drugs in Zimbabwe over the years owing to a myriad of factors, chief among them being unemployment, poverty among a host of other issues. By Michael Gwarisa This has been revealed by the Final Situation Assessment report of drug use in five provinces to inform HIV and TB programming for people who use drugs. The research was conducted by the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN), the National AIDS Council (NAC) and the Ministry of…

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Treasury fails to fully disburse 2022 Budget Allocation to Ministry of Health

Kuda Pembere

Zimbabwe’s Finance and Economic Development Ministry had by end of September not fully disburse the 2022 National Budget allocation it allocated to the Health and Child Care during the 2022 national budget. By Kuda Pembere This was said by Bulawayo Central Member of Parliament Hon. Nicola Watson who is also the acting chairperson of the health and child care parliamentary committee on Wednesday. The Ministry of Health and Child Care had received 85% of the revised budget of ZWL$146.63billion as at 30 September 2022,” she said. During the period in…

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