Category: #COVID19

Japan Further Supports COVID-19 Response In Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

THE Government of Japan has allocated over a million United States (US) dollars in additional support to UNICEF Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 response through responsive and preventive care interventions to vulnerable children and women across multiple sectors including health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, GBV and child protection and education. Staff Reporter The project will be implemented in 32 districts across the country which are hotspots for drought, flooding, HIV and AIDS, malaria, cholera and other diarrheal diseases, as well as COVID-19. The partnership extends for 12 months starting in March 2021 and aims to…

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Bars Will Remain Closed Until The Third Wave Has Passed Says Gvt

Healthtimes

CABINET has announced that bars and night clubs remain closed until further notice owing to the growing threat of imminent COVID-19 third wave. By Staff Reporter Addressing Journalists during a Post Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the move was in good faith. Cabinet remains cognisant of the need to fully open all economic activities. However, in the face of the threat of a Third Wave, Cabinet has deferred consideration of the opening of bars and night clubs until further notice,” said Senetor Mutsvangwa.…

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#LongReadAhead: Vaccines Efficacy And Effectiveness Explained

Michael Gwarisa
Dr Tinashe Gede

THE arrival of the coronavirus on our shores has to a larger extent planted an appetite for reading and commenting around health-related issues even amongst non-medical people. All of a sudden everyone is now a public health or medical analyst and this is largely due to information gaps present in our communities. By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organisation (WHO) identified information and communication as a key pillar to the pandemic response amongst the eight pillars the world heath body has set. However, when not managed and disseminated well, information…

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Can A Vaccinated Person Still Get Infected With COVID-19?

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE kicked off the COVID-19 vaccination programme on 18 February, 2021, aiming to protect its citizens. The vaccine is open to all aged 18 and above and is accessible free of charge. Citizens must check with their nearest health facility to see where they can access the vaccine in their neighborhood. Catherine Murombedzi Health Correspondent Like all new innovations, the pace was slow at the beginning. As at April 16, 2021, a total 35 806 people had been vaccinated, with the protection programme gathering momentum, 135 new local infections from…

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Zimbabwe COVID-19 Case Fatality Among The Highest In The World-Expert

Michael Gwarisa

IN as much as Zimbabwe’s deaths from COVID-19 are relatively lower than those being recorded in other parts of the world, indications on the ground are that there is a high possibility that whoever gets infected has a greater chance of succumbing to the virus. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking to Journalists, Immunologist and Public Health expert, Dr Tinashe Gede said the country has of late been battling highly virulent COVID-19 strains, hence the high case fatality. On a relative scale, as a Continent, Africa has been relatively spared in terms…

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Vaccine Hesitancy Stands In The Way Of Zim’s Herd Immunity Target

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) says even though numbers of people who are now taking the vaccine have increased, the hesitancy that characterized the initial stages of national vaccination program might have slowed down progress towards inoculating 60% of the population that is required to achieve herd immunity. By Michael Gwarisa Herd immunity, or community immunity, is when a large part of the population of an area is immune to a specific disease. If enough people are resistant to the cause of a disease, such as a…

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Boarding Students Not Allowed To Travel Home For Independence Holiday

Healthtimes

THE Zimbabwean cabinet has resolved that boarding school learners should not travel back home over the Independence holiday as a way of curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. By Tanaka Moyo Speaking during a press briefing Monica Mutsvangwa, the Minister of Information and broadcasting services said the COVID-19 confirmed cases at Sacred High School were under control as it was easily detected. Last week’s outbreak at Sacred Heart School in Umzingwane District of Matabeleland South Province was easily detected and dealt with. Out of the 248 students and 33…

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NBSZ Sets 97,000 Units Blood Collection Target For 2021

Michael Gwarisa
Epharaim Mubayi

THE National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) is targeting to collect an ambitious 97,500 units of blood for the year 2021 despite ongoing COVID-19 induced challenges. By Michael Gwarisa The  target also comes in the face at a time the blood bank is recovering from a dry period whereby  reserves from blood banks branches around the country had been struggling to maintain normal blood stocks  of at least least five days due to travel restrictions that saw most donors failing to access blood clinics to donate blood in the first…

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Zimbabwe COVID-19 Hospitalizations Decrease

Michael Gwarisa

CABINET has announced that COVID-19 related hospitalizations have decreased over the past few weeks, signalling a positive outlook for the country battle against COVID-19. By Michael Gwarisa According to cabinet, majority of the new cases currently being recorded have mild to moderate symptoms and they don’t require hospitalization. Generally,  hospital admissions for COVID-19 cases have decreased, resulting in institutions such as the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals reclaiming areas in the Out-Patient Department for routine service provision,” said Information and Publicity Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa during a post cabinet media briefing.…

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Allergies Are Not Vaccine Side Effects- Dr Chivaura

Michael Gwarisa

FAMILY Practitioner and medical expert Dr Audrey Chivaura says not all reactions being experienced after getting COVID-19 jabs were side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines but could be as a result of underlying allergies. By Michael Gwarisa By definition, an allergy is a condition in which the immune system reacts abnormally to a foreign substance. At times the immune system reacts even to a substance or exposure to something that is not even harmless. Dr Chivaura said people should make an effort to know their allergic history before taking vaccines…

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