Category: #COVID19

Government Vaccination Program Targets COVID-19 Hotspots

Healthtimes

INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has announced that 500 000 Sinopharm vaccination doses that has been procured from China will be expected in the country by the end of this month end and the next priority of vaccination program will be at the country’s hotspots. By Staff Reporter Briefing Journalists, minister Mutsvangwa said government was also in the process of procuring two million more doses of vaccines from China. On procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, Cabinet is pleased to report that arrangements are currently in progress to…

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Open Up Space For Adolescents To Access SRHR Services

Healthtimes

RECENTLY, I was saddened to read that a dead infant was found during a burst sewer pipe at a primary school in Bulawayo. I imagined the state of hopelessness the parent must have felt to resort to infanticide. And I felt angry about the lack of prioritization of women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), especially during this time of COVID-19 lockdowns, that may have contributed to this horrific outcome. By Edinah Masiyiwa The insufficient attention to women’s and girls’ needs and disruptions in health systems during…

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Breaking: Schools Reopening Extended By Two Weeks

Michael Gwarisa

INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa’ has announced that cabinet has agreed to postpone Schools Reopening in the midst of surging Covid cases. By Michael Gwarisa She briefed Journalists this evening during a post cabinet media briefing where she highlighted that schools opening will be delayed by a further two weeks. In view of the regional and local upsurge of cases, the nation is informed that Cabinet approved that the reopening of schools and other learning institutions be delayed by 14 days. Government will be monitoring the situation…

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Zimbabwe COVID-19 Situation About To Get Out Of Hand- Expert

Michael Gwarisa

LOCAL epidemiologist and public health expert, Dr Grant Murewanhema has warned that Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 situation could blow out of proportion in the coming days and urged citizens to religiously adhere to World Health Organization (WHO) set COVID-19 prevention measures. Staff Reporter His warning comes at the back of an increasing daily infection rate as well as fatality rate which has tripled over the past few days. We are going to a place where we don’t want to be but where I have been warning that we might end up going.…

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WHO Helps South Africa Set First COVID mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer Hub

Healthtimes

THE World Health Organization (WHO) and its COVAX partners are working with a South African consortium comprising Biovac, Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, a network of universities and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish its first COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub. By Staff Reporter The move follows WHO’s global  call for Expression of Interest (EOI) on 16 April 2021 to establish COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hubs to scale up production and access to COVID vaccines. Over the coming weeks, the partners will negotiate details…

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Zim Headmasters Want Schools Reopened After Winter To Curb Spread Of COVID-19 In Schools

Healthtimes

THE Zimbabwe National Union of School Heads (ZINUSH) has called on government to consider closing schools until winter passes in bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 in learning institutions. By Patricia Mashiri ZINUSH president, Mr John Muzamani said in a statement that it was in the interest of children and teachers’ safety not to open schools early. With regards to schools reopening, we suggest that all schools remain closed throughout the winter season and consider reopening when it is warmer and relatively safer. That should be around mid- August.…

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Two Government Officials Die From COVID-19 In Karoi

Healthtimes

PRESIDENT  Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced stricter COVID-19 measures for Mashonaland West following the surge in COVID-19 and death of two government officials in Karoi. By Patricia Mashiri Places under localised lockdowons at the moement include Makonde district, Hurungwe district and Kariba districts and Kwekwe and President Mnangagwa said the COVID outbreak in Zambia which exposes Kariba and other neighboring districts from across the border. COVID-19  cases continue to increase in the above-mentioned districts. On Monday 14 June 2021 Mash West had 38 cases, on Tuesday the figure went up to…

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Zimbabwe Should Rethink Vaccine Deployment Strategy

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE has been urged to re-look its national vaccination distribution strategy in order to increase uptake and move close towards vaccinating at least 60 percent of the population. By Michael Gwarisa The country commenced vaccinating its citizens in March 2021 following a delivery of the Sinopharm doses from the Republic of China. Even though at first, there was vaccine hesitancy more people are now coming forward willingly to get vaccinated. However, there been reports of shortages of vaccines dosses across the country of late. Immunologist and Medical Expert, Dr Tinashe…

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Drinking Beer From Inside Car During Covid Times Now Illegal

Michael Gwarisa

DRINKING alcohol inside your car is now a criminal offence, according to a statement from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), as the nation battles to arrest the rising COVID-19 cases. By HealthTimes Correspondent The statement released Monday dictates that aside from imbibing in vehicles, guzzling at bottle stores is prohibited. In this regard, all those found drinking beer at bottle stores, inside vehicles and surrounding areas will be arrested,” said ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi in the statement. This comes following last Saturday’s pronouncement by Vice President and Health…

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Partial Lockdown Applauded

Healthtimes

HEALTH experts have welcomed the moved by government to put the country on a partial lockdown as means to curb the spread of the coronavirus. By Patricia Mashiri Dr Alex Gasasira, the World Health Organization Representative in Zimbabwe recently told the state media that government had taken a broad decision in announcing a partial lockdown as a way of avoiding an upsurge in COVID-19 cases. What the government of Zimbabwe is doing is in line with what the WHO recommends. It is necessary for governments to carefully review local evidence…

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