Category: #COVID19

Zimbabwe Records 323 Adverse Reactions To COVID-19 Vaccines

Michael Gwarisa

A total 323 suspected COVID-19 Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI), had been reported to the Medicines Control of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) as of July, 8 2022. By Michael Gwarisa This is out of a cumulative total of 6.3 million 1st doses and 4.6 million 2nd doses of COVID-19 vaccines that have been administered since the National Vaccination program was launched in February 2021. This translates to a rate of approximately 0.003% suspected adverse events (approximately 3 reactions for every 10 000 doses administered). 70% of these 323 AEFI reports were received…

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Millions of lives at risk as progress against AIDS falters

Michael Gwarisa

MONTREAL/GENEVA- New data from UNAIDS on the global HIV response reveals that during the last two years of COVID-19 and other global crises, progress against the HIV pandemic has faltered, resources have shrunk, and millions of lives are at risk as a result. The new report, In Danger, is being launched ahead of the International AIDS Conference in Montreal, Canada. Globally the number of new infections dropped only 3.6% between 2020 and 2021, the smallest annual decline in new HIV infections since 2016. Eastern Europe and central Asia, Middle East…

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25 Million Infants Missing Out On Lifesaving Vaccines

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF have sounded the alarm as new data shows global vaccination coverage continued to decline in 2021, with 25 million infants missing out on lifesaving vaccines The largest sustained decline in childhood vaccinations in approximately 30 years has been recorded in official data published today by WHO and UNICEF. The percentage of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) – a marker for immunization coverage within and across countries – fell 5 percentage points between 2019 and…

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PANGAEA ZIMBABWE AIDS TRUST appoints COVID-19 Prevention Champions To Curb Vaccine Hesitancy

Michael Gwarisa

PANGAEA Zimbabwe AIDS Trust (PZAT), has appointed a 15 member team drawn from various sectors to be COVID-19 Prevention champions in their different communities in a bid to promote vaccine literacy and advocate for the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in communities. By Michael Gwarisa The move comes in the midst of findings from a recent COVID-19 Rapid Assessment that was conducted by PZAT in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Child Care, which indicated that vaccine hesitancy and lack of trust in vaccines being administered in Zimbabwe were the major…

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CDC Moves Zimbabwe To Moderate COVID-19 Risk Category

Michael Gwarisa

THE United States Center For Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) has moved Zimbabwe to the moderate risk destination for COVID-19. HealthTimes Reporter The development comes after the CDC overhauled its ratings system for assessing Covid-19 risk for travelers in April this year. Under the new categories, the CDC has added four places to its list of “high” risk destinations for Covid-19, including St. Kitts and Nevis, part of the Leeward Islands east of Puerto Rico, which were placed on the Level 3 category on Monday. The Level 3 “high” risk…

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14.9 Excess Deaths Associated With The COVID-19 Pandemic In 2020-2021, Europe, America and South-East Asia Account For Majority Of Deaths

Michael Gwarisa

New estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the full death toll associated directly or indirectly with the COVID-19 pandemic (described as “excess mortality”) between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021 was approximately 14.9 million (range 13.3 million to 16.6 million). “These sobering data not only point to the impact of the pandemic but also to the need for all countries to invest in more resilient health systems that can sustain essential health services during crises, including stronger health information systems,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO…

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Mpilo pediatric cardiac ward turned to COVID-19 Isolation area

Healthtimes

THE cardiac ward children with heart diseases at Mpilo Central Hospital is yet to be utilised with parent.s and guardians getting several excuses from Hospital authorities. By Kudakwashe Pembere The appropriately furnished unit was last week converted into a COVID-19 isolation centre, something which left Brave Little Hearts which worked hard to see the unit set up, concerned. Brave Little Hearts in Zimbabwe (BLHZ is a community organisation in Bulawayo advocating for the interests of children with congenital heart diseases. The organisation seeks to spread awareness and knowledge to the…

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Angels Foundation Launches Men’s Month Campaign

Michael Gwarisa

Angels Foundation Zimbabwe says it will be launching a Men’s Month in coming June as a way to celebrate the sacrifices of men as fathers, uncles, brothers and sons in society and it will be celebrated every year going forward. Staff Reporter Speaking to HealthTimes, Mr Edmore Munyoro said men in general have a poor health seeking behaviour and the launch will try to address that. Angels Foundation Zimbabwe has chosen June because of Father’s day that is celebrated yearly in that month as the organization aims to raise awareness…

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#BREAKING: Ministry of Health Decentralizes Activation Of QR Codes On COVID-19 Vaccination Cards

Healthtimes

The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has announced that activation of QR codes for vaccination cards will now be expanded beyond Kaguvi building to other parts of the country,  in a bid to bring convenience to travelers. Government introduced vaccination cards with QR Codes in 2021 to prevent the duplication of vaccination cards by scammers. However, Kaguvi building, where the Ministry of Health is housed had been the only activation point for the cards. In an statement, the ministry said “as part of its COVID-19 Vaccination roll out…

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Bridge Vaccine Inequity To Boost Population Immunity Against COVID-19 Says Dr Tedros

Healthtimes

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says making vaccines available to a wider population increases chances of defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. HealthTimes Reporter  Addressing Media Briefing, Dr Tedros said last week, the lowest number of COVID-19 deaths was recorded since the early days of the pandemic. However, emerging variants continue to threaten efforts to eradicate the virus. Some countries are still witnessing serious spikes in cases, which is putting pressure on hospitals. And our ability to monitor trends is compromised as testing has significantly reduced.  This…

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