Category: #COVID19

Zimbabwe Launches Private Sector COVID-19 Vaccination Program

Michael Gwarisa

A Private Sector COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, an initiative to assist Government in its mass vaccination drive, has been launched in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa The program will assist in halting the rapid spread of COVID-19 by achieving herd immunity through having at least 60% of the population vaccinated against COVID-19. Under Zimbabwe’s Private Sector COVID-19 Vaccination initiative, the vaccines were acquired through government and will be dispensed through Cimas clinics countrywide. Officiating at launch of the Private Sector COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, Health and Child Care Deputy Ministry, Dr John Mangwiro…

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COVID-19 Leads To Spike In Respiratory And Spectacles Medical Aid Claims In Zim

Michael Gwarisa

THE Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ), which is the umbrella body for all medical aid companies in Zimbabwe says there has been an upsurge in respiratory and Eye related medical aid claims during the COVID-19 period. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual meeting recently, AHFoZ Chief Executive Officer, Ms Shylet Sanyanga said, “In terms of the impact of COVID-19, we noticed that since the beginning of the pandemic and since the first case was diagnosed here in Zimbabwe, there has been an increase of respiratory related claims…

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17,000 Arrested In One Week For Breaking COVID-19 Regulations In Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

A total 17, 727 arrests were made countrywide during the over the past seven days for flouting the various lockdown regulations, bringing the total  arrested so far to 607 386. Staff Reporter Briefing Journalists during a Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa warned citizens against disregarding COVID-19 Law enforcement agents are intensifying efforts to curb the re-emergence of illegal transport operators. Seventeen thousand seven hundred and twenty seven (17 727) arrests were made countrywide during the week under review for flouting the various…

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Merck Foundation Aims To Bridge Specialist Gap In Africa And Asia

Healthtimes

MERCK Foundation trained over 1 100 medical practitioners from Africa and Asia to bridge the gap of shortage of health personnel in some countries. By Kudakwashe Pembere On the back of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, most of these trainings were done virtually. This was said by Merck Foundation CEO Senator Dr Rasha Kelej during her organisation’s inaugural session of the 8th Edition of the ”MERCK FOUNDATION AFRICA ASIA LUMINARY” 2021 Online Videoconference. I would to assure that as Merck foundation we have trained 350 doctors across 35 countries in Africa…

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#NewsInBrief: Court Releases Dr Manangazira’s Passport

Healthtimes

MINISTRY of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Director Epidemiology Services, Dr Portia Manangazira who is facing nepotism  and abuse of office charges after employing 27 relatives including her father late last year, has successfully applied for the release of  her passport. NewsRoom Dr Manangazira appeared before magistrate Stamford Mambanje who released her passport to allow her to travel to Zambia on a business trip.  

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Zim COVID-19 Epidemic Curve Flattening – Dr Grant

Michael Gwarisa
Dr Grant Murewanhema

LOCAL Public Health Expert and Epidemiologist, Dr Grant Murewanhema has hinted that Zimbabwe’s epidemic curve was at the verge of flattening even though clustered sections of infections were still reported at community level. By Michael Gwarisa An epidemic curve, also known as an epi curve or epidemiological curve, is a statistical chart used to visualize the onset and progression of a disease outbreak. Presenting during an editors workshop that was organized by the National AIDS Council, Dr Grant said there was need to scale-up COVID-19 prevention interventions in  a bid…

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95% Of Deaf Persons In Zim Don’t Understand Shona, Face Communication Challenges During COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

COMPREHENDING and interpreting COVID-19 information has not been a walk in the park for  deaf persons amidst indications that 98% of of the deaf community do not understand the vernacular Shona language. By Michael Gwarisa Sign Language Interpreters Association of Zimbabwe (SLIAZ) Chairperson, Professor Lincoln Hlatsyawo told editors and station managers in Chinhoyi recently that the deaf community had been lagging behind in terms of access to COVID-19 and HIV information. Inaccessible Information Education and Communication (IEC) material has been an issue and in respect of COVID-19 and HIV and…

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COVID-19 Chokes AIDS Levy Collections

Michael Gwarisa

THE prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected AIDS Levy collections at the back of job losses and diminishing incomes during the period from March 2020 to date, making it difficult to fund HIV and AIDS interventions locally. By Michael Gwarisa The AIDS Levy is derived from  3% of income tax paid by individuals and cooperates and in Zimbabwe, HIV interventions are currently funded 70% by donors (multilateral or bilateral) and 11% by public resources and the reminder by Private players. —According to ZNASP (2015-2020), the HIV funding Gap for 2020…

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Government On High Alert Over COVID-19 In schools

Healthtimes

GOVERNMENT says it will be scaling up COVID-19 surveillance and testing in schools to avert a possible spike in cases which could lead to a third wave. By Tanaka Moyo Speaking during a press briefing Monica Mutsvangwa the Minister of Information and Broadcasting services said the government was aware that there were confirmed COVID-19 cases in some schools and it was assured that there was surveillance. Cabinet notes that the strong COVID-19 surveillance system that Government had put in place had enabled the Ministry to detect outbreaks early. Cabinet was…

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Japan Commits US1,3 Million To Help Zim’s Pregnant Women

Healthtimes
Young Preganant Women

THE Japanese government  and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency have pledged to help pregnant women in Zimbabwe through a signed US$ 1,3 million partnership grant. By Patricia Mashiri Through the project “Strengthening Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care in COVID-19 Hotspots in Zimbabwe”, Japan will provide support to improve the provision of maternal health care services within the context of COVID-19, specifically strengthening the referral system and ensuring the continuity of assisted delivery care in Harare and Bulawayo. Mr Satoshi Tanaka,…

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