Category: #COVID19

Botswana Discovers New Omicron Sub Variant

Healthtimes

THE BOTSWANA Ministry of Health and Wellness announced on Monday the discovery of a new Covid-19 variant. “Our scientists have been investigating new coronavirus mutations detected in Botswana,” said Dr Christopher Nyanga, permanent secretary from the Botswana Health Ministry. Nyanag said that on further analysis and verification, the mutations, which had been detected in four people in Botswana, had been noted as a new sub-lineage of the Omicron variant. “The preliminary finding of this new sub-lineage in Botswana has been designated as Omicron BA.4 and BA.5. “The four cases are…

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Trust Issues Blamed For Low Vaccine Uptake in Zim-Study

Michael Gwarisa

SKEPTICISM around the Chinese manufactured vaccines, the Sinopharm and Sinovac has to a greater extent hampered the uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa This is according to data that was gathered during a COVID-19 Rapid Assessment that was conducted by Pangea Zimbabwe AIDS Trust between September and October 2021. Zimbabwe is currently ranked among the highest in Africa in terms of vaccinating its citizens. However, a number of factors have hindered the country’s progress towards attaining herd immunity where an ambitious target of vaccinating 10 million citizens…

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WHO Suspends Supply Of Indian Vaccine, Covaxin

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO), has with immediate effect, suspended the supply of the Indian manufactured COVAXIN shots following the outcome of an inspection in March 2022, where deficiencies and manufacturing related concerns were identified. By Michael Gwarisa The decision by WHO has also prompted Bharat Biotech, the manufacturer to immediately suspend production of Covaxin, a move that is set to interrupt the vaccination programs for countries relying on Covaxin to carry out immunisations. Countries that had approved the use of COVAXIN include Zimbabwe, Australia, Mauritius, Oman, Philippines, Nepal, Mexico,…

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Negative COVID-19 Results No longer Mandatory When Entering Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

RETURNING Zimbabwean residents and visitors will no longer be mandated to produce a negative PCR certificate, a cabinet minister has announced. By Kudakwashe Pembere In the past, returning residents had to produce a Negative result as well as proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to gain access into the country. Addressing a post cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said it will not be a prerequisite to produce a negative PCR but a proof of vaccination is still required. Cabinet has resolved that…

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South Africa outlaws outdoor wearing of masks

Healthtimes

SOUTH Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa has made significant changes to his country’s COVID-19 regulations, undoing the outdoor wearing of masks. By Staff Reporter President Cyril Ramaphosa announced these changes on Tuesday in a televised statement on progress in national efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. As before, it is mandatory to wear a cloth mask or similar covering over the nose and mouthwhen in public indoor spaces. However, a mask is not required when outdoors. This means that we still need to wear masks when in shops, malls, offices, factories,…

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Zim Inks US$6.6 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Grant

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE’S finance ministry, the World Bank Group, as the Fund Administrator of the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund have singed a US$6.6 Million COVID-19 response grant with the aim of supporting the deployment and management of COVID-19 vaccines. By Staff Reporter According to the World Bank, financing for the project, which comes in the form of a grant, aims to support the deployment and management of COVID-19 vaccines and strengthen related health system capacity in Zimbabwe. the grant will ensure adequate…

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Suspend Sale of Captured Live Wildlife in Food Markets Warns WHO and Partners

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Agricultural organization (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) have issued a statement condemning the sale of live wild mammals as well as the slaughtering of sickly wild animals as a means to prevent the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants between humans and wild animals. By Michael Gwarisa The call follows indications that certain wildlife species have been observed to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in some parts of the world.  These species include domestic animals, free-ranging, captive or…

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Shot In The Arm for Zimbabwe’s Healthcare Sector

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Care (MoHCC) has received a donation of medical equipment from the United Kingdom (UK) government and Northern Ireland and the United Nations (UN) donor agencies, through support from the Japanese government that will improve the management of COVID-19 as well as maternal healthcare services in the country’s healthcare system.  Michael Gwarisa Through the US$1.3 million that was mobilized the by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) from the Government of Japan, the MoHCC received eight ambulances, anaesthetic machines, operating tables, delivery tables, ICU beds, infusion…

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COVID-19 Triggers Mental Health Disorders In Zim Frontline Doctors

Michael Gwarisa

THE absence of adequate psychosocial support services coupled with discrimination from workmates and society especially for doctors who were working in the COVID-19 frontline exposed medical doctors to numerous mental health challenges at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa The report was a qualitative study to explore the experiences of medical practitioners responding to COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. Presenting findings from the Health Awareness Report study, Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) Secretary General, Dr Norman Matara said the medical sector was not spared from the…

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WHO Advises CountriesTo Be Wary of Omicron’s BA.2 Sublineage

Michael Gwarisa

EVEN though there is still a reported decline in overall cases globally, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s)  Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) has cautioned that countries should remain vigilant and continue monitoring and reporting sequences, as well as conducting independent and comparative analyses of the different Omicron sublineages. By Michael Gwarisa According to available data of transmission, severity, reinfection, diagnostics, therapeutics and impacts of vaccines, the TAG-VE reinforced that the BA.2 sublineage should continue to be considered a variant of concern and that it should remain classified…

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