Category: #COVID19

Viruses like COVID may ‘wake up’ dormant breast cancer cells, study finds

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  The worry that breast cancer may someday return is a troubling source of anxiety for many survivors of the disease. This is because most relapses and metastatic cancers (those that have spread) are not caused by new tumours, but by dormant cancer cells that suddenly become active. These cells often settle in places like the lungs or bones, lying in wait for the right conditions to grow again. For years, researchers suspected that chronic inflammation from factors such as smoking or ageing could be one of those…

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WHO Warns Against Using Antibiotics to Treat COVID-19 or Flu

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued updated guidelines strongly advising against the use of antibiotics to treat COVID-19 or influenza, emphasizing that these medications are ineffective against viral infections and contribute to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The guidelines, outlined in a recent WHO evidence brief, stress that antibiotics should only be prescribed for bacterial infections, not viral illnesses like COVID-19 or the flu. Misuse of antibiotics during the pandemic has exacerbated AMR, a global health crisis that could render common infections untreatable in…

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WHO on alert over new COVID variant

Michael Gwarisa

The World Health Organization recommends that countries remain vigilant and monitor the evolution of variants, particularly to avoid overwhelming healthcare systems, and advises maintaining active vaccination. This new variant has already led to a rise in cases in Europe and the United States. According to Julio Lopez, a virology expert, “the data available so far suggests that NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and partially evade the immunity resulting from previous infections or vaccination.” The main symptoms are fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, congestion or runny nose,…

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Zimbabwe’s Civil Society Pushes for Establishment of One-Stop Centre for Safe Abortion

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Advocates for safe abortion in Zimbabwe, comprising the Health Law Policy Consortium (HLPC) and the Institute for Young Women’s Development (IYWD), with support from the Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF), are lobbying for the establishment of a One-Stop Centre for safe abortion services. The initiative aims to address obstacles faced by women and girls in accessing abortion services. Currently, abortion in Zimbabwe is permitted under the Termination of Pregnancy Act (Chapter 15:10), enacted in 1977. The Act allows abortion in specific circumstances, including when continuing a pregnancy…

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Information Gaps Drive Unintended Pregnancies Among Children Who Live On The Streets In Zimbabwe

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere City life knows no sleep particularly for children living and working on the streets of the Harare Central Business District (CBD). Access to sexual reproductive health services is usually a hurdle for children due to a number of reasons. Around 11 pm, only a handful of people can be seen milling around town.  However, it is easy to spot children who live and work on the streets owing to their rugged and torn apparel. To prepare and recoup for the long nights which in most cases are…

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Zimbabwe Advised To Adopt Annual Covid-19 Vaccination That Covers New Strains For High Risk Groups Amid Waning Vaccine Effectiveness

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Data from a new study that sought to examine vaccine effectiveness in light of circulating Coronavirus variants following vaccination, has shown that the effectiveness of vaccines that were widely administered in Zimbabwe between 2021 and 2022 has weakened against emerging COVID-19 variants. The study dubbed COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and SARS CoV-2 variants in Zimbabwe: Test Negative Case-Control study, Genetic sequencing and Serology (ZIMCoVVAR) was a test-negative case-control study to evaluate the effectiveness of inactivated vaccines and was conducted from November 2022 to October 2023. The study did…

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AVAC Facilitates Translation of Health and Scientific Terms Into 10 African Languages

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to bridge information gaps between scientific research and community understanding, AVAC has launched the Translation Index, a translation of health and scientific terms into vernacular languages for Six African countries. The Translation Index offers health journalists accurate translations of commonly used and essential medical terms in their native languages in six African countries namely Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. At this time the Translation Index supports the following languages: Bemba, Cichewa, Dholuo, Kiswahili, Luganda, Ndebele, Runyankore, Shona, Tonga, and Tumbuka. We welcome…

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WHO updates guidelines on treatments for COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

Updated risk rates for hospital admission in patients with non-severe COVID-19 The guidance includes updated risk rates for hospital admission in patients with non-severe COVID-19. The current COVID-19 virus variants tend to cause less severe disease while immunity levels are higher due to vaccination, leading to lower risks of severe illness and death for most patients. This update includes new baseline risk estimates for hospital admission in patients with non-severe COVID-19. The new ‘moderate risk’ category now includes people previously considered to be high risk including older people and/or those…

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Household Food Insecurity Worries Pushed Mental Health Challenges During COVID-19 In Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

Rosalina Mutekedza (38), a single mother from Warren Park 1 in Harare is happy the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided and there is no more need for any restrictions and lockdowns to contain the spread of the diseases. By Ntokozo Gudu Above all, she is happy that now she can fend for her three children without any fear of breaking the law. She recalls how the COVID-19 induced lockdowns almost drive her into depression owing to uncertainty they brought. I was worried. During the first 21 days of the COVID-19, i…

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Health Ministry pledges support to CODEX activities

Kuda Pembere

The Zimbabwean government is committed proffer high level support as well as having national CODEX activities included in the national budget, a senior health and childcare ministry official said last Wednesday. By Kuda Pembere This was said at the CODEX Trust Fund 2 inception workshop by the Permanent Secretary in the Health and Childcare Ministry Dr Aspect Maunganidze in a speech read on his behalf by Government Analyst Laboratory Director Mr Livingstone Masiyambiri. Zimbabwe successfully applied for the CTF2 in 2021, and preparations have been underway to initiate its implementation.…

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