Category: #COVID19

Centralised COVID-19 Responses Hindering service Delivery in local authorities

Healthtimes

WHEN the State fails to devolve its powers to the citizenry local government structures, the citizens lose their interest in what the government is doing. During the COVID-19, it has become very clear that without devolution, decisions will continue to be made by the central government for the different local government structures in Zimbabwe. By Precious Shumba, HRT Director  Devolution means transferring decision making powers to the local tiers of government. The citizens have the right to vote and play oversight over their local government structures, with the capacity to…

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Blood Bank Running At Less Than 5 Days Stocks

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ),  the country’s blood bank has run dry. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a Webiner Press Conference, NBSZ Public Affairs manger, Ms Esther Massundah told journalists that stocks had drastically been depleted over the knockdown period owing to a myriad of factors chief among them being lack of funding to procure critical consumables. We are currently running low in terms of our blood stocks. We have got blood stocks that are below the five days, which is the standard requirement of the blood bank to…

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#Talking COVID-19 With Dr Grant: COVID-19 And Lessons For Africa

Healthtimes
Dr Grant Murewanhema

THE world is currently undergoing one of the worst challenges ever; something nobody had foreseen. Millions of people have been infected by the novel coronavirus; hundreds of thousands have died, and a lot more have battled for their lives. By Dr Grant Murewanhema Governments have imposed lockdowns, and productivity has gone down. The developed world, especially the UK, USA and American countries have been hardest hit by the pandemic, and many of these are struggling to cope on many fronts. Economies are expected to crash following protracted periods of suppressed…

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MSU Releases Exams Schedule

Healthtimes

THE University would like to advise final year students that plans for opening our campuses in preparation for the end of semester examinations are at an advanced stage. Remote teaching for these classes will continue until 19 June 2020. Thereafter, students will return to campus under a phased approach. Please take note that only registered students will be allowed to write examinations. MSU Student ID cards will be required for entry into University premises to reduce the risk of entry by unauthorised persons. Campus accommodation is mandatory for every undergraduate…

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28 Million Surgeries Could Be Cancelled worldwide: The Collateral Damage To Other Medical Services

Healthtimes

THE current COVID-19 pandemic is the defining crisis of our time and has seized the collective attention of the world. However, the potential collateral damage threatens to add to the effects of COVID-19 for years after the post-pandemic period. 28.4 million surgical procedures will be postponed or cancelled according to a new study published in the British Journal of Surgery. The research was performed by a global group of researchers known as the ‘COVIDSurg Collaborative’ that rapidly set up the project in record time and formed one of the largest…

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Covid-19 Information Not Accessible To People With Disabilities

Healthtimes

IN as much as strides have been made, and the government claiming that they have put every last resource to ensure that information about Covid-19 reaches every last person in the country, more still needs to be done to improve access to information for People With Disabilities (PWDs), founder and executive director for Deaf Women Agness Chindimba has said. By Munesu Nyakudya “There is a lot of information on the Covid-19 pandemic out there but the problem is that it is not  accessible. For example the information in form of…

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COVID-19 Affects Condom Distribution…Sex Workers Fear For Lives

Michael Gwarisa

THE Women Against All Forms Of Discrimination (WAAD), an organisation representing rights of sex workers and women has warned of a possible spike in new HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections during the lockdown period due shortages of condoms and other critical sexual reproductive health (SRH) services. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking to HealthTimes, WAAD Coordinator, Ms Hazel Zemura said the COVID-19 induced lockdown had affected distribution of essential SRH services especially amongst sex workers who have since moved their trade from clubs and bars to the streets and highways where truck…

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Zim Records First COVID-19 Cases From Prison Inmates

Healthtimes

FOUR prison inmates and two prison officers from border prisons at Beitbridge and Plumtree have tested positive for Covid-19 following PCR tests, promoting officials to seal off the two corrections units. SOURCE: THE HERALD Two inmates and one officer are from Plumtree while another pair of inmates and one officer tested positive in Beitbridge. The ongoing testing process throughout the prison system started at the border prisons which have accommodated arrested returnees from other countries. Police have announced that 94 border jumpers — people crossing illegally into Zimbabwe — have…

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Rasha Kelej creates a song by singers from 11 African countries to support medical workers during Coronavirus battle

Michael Gwarisa

Rasha Kelej: I have directed and produced for the first time, a song by singers from 11 African countries for the first time together in three languages; English, French and Arabic to show our support for medical workers around the world. This is my personal contribution towards the response to Coronavirus pandemic. In what has now become a global way of showing support and appreciation for medical workers around the world, during Coronavirus battle, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and One of 100 Most Influential Africans started her…

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Stanbic Commences Countrywide Distribution Of US$200 000 Worth Of COVID-19 Donations

Michael Gwarisa

LEADING financial services institution, Stanbic Bank has kick-started the distribution of US$200 000 worth of equipment to health institutions throughout the country for use by frontline workers in the fight against the menacing Covid-19. The Standard Bank Group subsidiary pledged to purchase equipment to help fight Covid-19 in April and has now taken delivery of US$200 000 worth of 32 500 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) which include suits, masks, face shields and goggles; 2 400 PCR tests, 3 000 sanitizers and 5 ventilators expected in the country this…

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