COMMUNITY RESPONSE |

#COVID-19: WHO Donates More Equipment To Zim

April 22, 2020April 23, 2020 Healthtimes

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) donated a consignment of equipment for Zimbabwe’s Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) response. By Kudakwashe Pembere The consignment consisted of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and a state of the art Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine. This equipment comes to augment WHO’s Testing Kits, PPEs and technical assistance they provided in this fight against COVID-19. With the PPE costing USD16 527, the PCR Machine fetched USD24 436 adding to a total of USD40 963. The equipment comes amid cries from the healthworkers who said they did not have…

SOS for Mbuya Dhaaa …Spare a thought for Betta community

April 17, 2020April 17, 2020 Healthtimes

THIS article is a special SOS for Mbuya Dhaaa, who is a special needs senior citizen, aged 70+. Mbuya Dhaaa has sores on the scalp, has a cold and is unwell. By Catherine Murombedzi in Mt Hampden At times Mbuya Dhaaa goes to bed on an empty stomach. Her usual day sees her sun bathing (kudziya zuva) in her 4 metre yard. As sun goes up, she roams the streets of Betta community before heading home at sunset. With dementia setting in, with no children to take care of her,…

UK Scales Up Support For The Vulnerable In The Midst Of COVID-19 In Zim

April 8, 2020April 8, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE United Kingdom (UK) has pledged its commitment to help combat COVID19 in Zimbabwe through offering technical and financial assistance to various partners as part of its humanitarian efforts and mission to improve health conditions for vulnerable communities. By Michael Gwarisa To date, the UK has pledged £544 million to support vaccine and treatments research, protecting fragile economies and helping organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF to slow the spread of the disease. In Zimbabwe, the Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting partners UNICEF, WHO, UNDP…

MSU Joins the War Against COVID-19 through the Production of Hand Sanitiser and PPE

April 4, 2020 Healthtimes

AS the world continues to grapple with the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) governments, corporates, institutions and individuals across the world are coming together in an effort to save the lives of infected patients and to protect those that are working on the frontline among them healthcare workers and other essential service providers. However, due to the disruptive effects of the pandemic, most counties do not have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitary products which are needed to protect people from exposure. Zimbabwe like most nations has not been…

Zim Gvt, UN Launch US$715m 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan

April 2, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan for Zimbabwe was launched today, targeting 5.6 million people with food assistance and support in the areas of health, water-sanitation-hygiene, education, protection, nutrition, shelter, and camp coordination and management. The plan requests for a total of US$715 million from international community. The Humanitarian Response Plan was signed by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works, and National Housing, Honorable July Moyo and the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Maria Ribeiro in the presence of His Excellency President Emmerson D. Mnangagwa, Government Ministers, WHO and WFP representatives…

ROOTS Africa Buys Basic Goods For The Vulnerable During Zim Lockdown

March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

A local humanitarian organisation, ROOTS Africa has embarked on an initiative to hand out basic daily commodities and necessities to vulnerable groups during the 21 days national lockdown period. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe commenced its lockdown on Monday, March 30 2020 amidst nationwide panic buying as citizens prepared for the three weeks long phase indoors. In an interview with HealthTimes, ROOTS Africa Director, Beatrice Savadye said in as much as they welcome the national lockdown, it affected livelihoods of many people especially those who survive from hand to mouth hence…

US Pledges US$470 000 Towards Fighting Covid-19 In Zimbabwe

March 27, 2020March 27, 2020 Healthtimes

The United States has pledged US$470,000 to fight the spread of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. As of Friday, March 27, the World Health Organization (WHO) said over 530,000 people have been infected with COVID-19 worldwide and more than 24,000 people have died from the disease — the majority from China. Zimbabwe declared its first case last weekend. Soon after this declaration, Zimbabwe announced two additional confirmed cases and the passing of Zororo Makamba on Tuesday, March 24. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is coordinating with the Government of…

Russia Avails US$1.5 Million For Zim’s Food Assistance

March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

Russian Ambassador (centre) Mr Eddie Rowe (Right) and Mr Erasmus Gapara (left)

THE Russian Federation has donated an amount to the tune of US$1.5 million for the purchase of over a thousand metric tons (MT) of food to support the affected communities in Hwange, Nkayi and Zvishavane Districts in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa The food items will be distributed by the World Food Program (WFP) in the mentioned three districts amidst indications that some 5.5 million rural people, or 59 percent of the rural population, is at risk and requires emergency food assistance from January to April, the peak of the lean…

Ecobank Pours US$30 000 Towards Zim Coronavirus Preparedness

March 4, 2020March 4, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

ECOBANK Zimbabwe, has donated an amount to the tune of US$30 000 for the procurement of Rapid Testing Kits that will be deployed at all ports of entry including air and boarder posts. By Michael Gwarisa The financial facility is set to strengthen efforts to break the chain of transmission through reinforcing testing and screening for the bug at the ports of entry. Handing over the donation, Ecobank Managing Director, Moses Kurenjekwa said “ As a bank with a global footprint and local presence, we are alive to the potential…

Nutrition Boost For Rushinga Pregnant & Lactating Women

March 3, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

HUNDREDS of women are set to benefit from a food distribution program targeting pregnant and lactating women in Rushinga through a partnership between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Food Program (WFP). By Michael Gwarisa recently in Rushinga The food relief consignment is also part of the WFP lean season assistance in 21 wards of Rushinga district where a total of 5187 beneficiaries in Rushinga which constitutes to 10999 households are set to benefit. At Rutuka, Ward 9 in Rushinga at least six women received the food…