Category: #COVID19

Hetero bags first world WHO prequalification of medicines programme generic version of Pfizer’s Covid-19 oral drug

Kuda Pembere

A leading global pharmaceutical manufacturer Hetero Group emerged the first company in the world to be accorded the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) prequalification of medicines programme (WHO-PQ) for its generic version of Covid-19 oral antiviral treatment candidate Nirmatrelvir. This antiviral with Ritonavir is used as part of Pfizer’s Paxlovid. The company said it, “will be rolling out its generic combi-pack under the NIRMACOM brand that will contain 150mg tablets of Nirmatrelvir and 100mg tablets of Ritonavir.” The WHO deemed the drug, Nirmatrelvir, the best option for high risk patients. “This…

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Mthuli’s Uninspiring Budget Allocation Towards Healthcare Slammed

Michael Gwarisa

PUBLIC Health Experts and health economists have criticized the recently announced allocation of 11% towards healthcare, which they believe is still a far-cry from the required allocation of 15% in accordance with the Abuja Declaration. By Michael Gwarisa The government allocation on health and child care as a percentage of the total public expenditure increased from 10.6% in 2022 to 11.2% in 2023, making the Abuja target an elusive pipe-dream. Giving an Analysis of the 2022 Budget, Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said while…

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Varume Vakamboita COVID Voshungurudzwa Nedambudziko Rekupera Simba Kwenhengo Dzavo Dzesikarudzi

Michael Gwarisa

VANHU vakawanda vakambobatwa ne denda re COVID-19 munguva yakati pfuurei, varikuratidzika kuti vachiri kushungurudzwa nezviratidzo zve COVID-19 nezvimwe zvirerwere zvakawanda kusanganisira kupera simba kwenhengo dzana baba dzesikarudzi panguva dzebonde. Na Michael Gwarisa Dambudziko rehurwere mushure me COVID rakatumidzwa nana mazvikokota kuti Long COVID. Vachitaura nevatori venhau muguta guru re Harare pamusangano wakarongwa neve Health Communicators Forum of Zimbabwe (HCF), Muzvinamushonga wema ndiriri, va Tinashe Mudzviti vakati ivo varume vakawanda vakuuya ku ma pharmacy emuzvipatara zvehurumende ne ayo akazvimrira vachitsvaga mishonga kana mapiritsi angavabatsira kuti vawane simba. Ichokwadi, varume vakawanda vakambosangana…

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People Previously Infected By COVID Now Developing Long COVID Comorbidities in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

SINCE the onset of the Omicron variant in November 2021, COVID-19 has since taken a new trajectory. Unlike its predecessor variants such as Delta, Beta and Alpha which caused severe sickness, hospitalisations and numerous deaths, the Omicron is a complete opposite of the three.  By the end of December 2021, it represented 96% of all COVID-19 infections in the UK and 92% in Denmark. Data from South Africa, the UK, Denmark, Canada and the US all showed a lesser risk of hospitalization when infected with Omicron compared to Delta By…

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Number of babies dying at birth increase in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

Women not booking at ANC facilities early leading to complications Exodus of healthcare staff leads to poor quality of care for pregnant women THE number of babies dying during birth, moments before birth or a few weeks before and after being born has been going up over the past five years in Zimbabwe largely due to a myriad of factors ranging from failure by pregnant women to book at the ANC on time, infection of babies before, during and after birth as well as declining quality of care in health…

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Health Communicators Forum Launches Health Reporting Media Awards

Healthtimes

In a bid to award journalists and encourage them to report better on health the Health Communicator Forum of Zimbabwe with backing from HIFC will honour the best health journalists in the country. By Staff Reporter During the awards journalists will be judged on best Covid 19 coverage and Best HIV/AIDS coverage amongst other categories. Speaking to Health times, the HCF Chairperson, Anna Miti said the awards are important as health journalists have been working really hard to keep reporting health in a very difficult environment fraught with misinformation and…

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Musasa One Stop Centre Assists 500 GBV Survivors

Michael Gwarisa

THE Hopley One Stop Centre being run by Musasa Project through support from the UNFPA and the ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development, has served a total 500 women and girls who experienced GBV and other forms of violence over the past 10 months. By Michael Gwarisa Hopley has a high incidence of GBV as well as other harmful practices such as Child Marriages and teenage pregnancies which are at 18% respectively while 70% of women in Hopley are mothers by age 24. Speaking during a visit to  centre by…

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Saving Lives and Livelihoods helping Africa fight COVID-19; One-shot at a time

Healthtimes

The Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative, a $1.5 billion partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and the Africa CDC, is accelerating vaccination across the African continent. Considerable progress has been recorded across the four focus areas; purchase of vaccines for more than 65 million people, deployment of the vaccines across the continent, the development of a workforce that will manufacture vaccine in Africa and strengthening the capacity of the Africa CDC. So far, three countries have surpassed the 70% vaccination target; Seychelles (81.3%), Mauritius (76.6%0 and Rwanda (76.5%). Also, 10 countries…

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Number of COVID-19 orphans nears 150,000 in South Africa

Healthtimes

UNICEF South Africa calls for a whole of society response to protect, nurture and care for the most vulnerable children. PRETORIA, 05 September 2022 – COVID-19 associated deaths have left nearly 150,000 children as orphans, according to latest data modelling from Imperial College London, as part of the Global Reference Group for Children Affected by COVID-19: Joint Estimates and Action. That number rises to 207,400 when including children who have lost their primary or secondary caregiver, such as a grandparent. The tragic figures reiterate the importance of a holistic and…

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#BREAKING: Zimbabwe Scraps Masks Wearing Mandate For Vaccinated Citizens

Michael Gwarisa

INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has announced that fully vaccinated citizens are no longer required to wear masks outdoors. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing Journalists during a Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Sen Mutsvangwa said, “Those who have been fully vaccinated are no longer mandated to wear masks in outdoor public.” She however added that people need  carry their vaccination cards as evidence and they are are still required to wear masks indoors for example during indoor concerts etc, masks are mandatory. …More Details To Follow

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