Category: Features

Rising HIV treatment failure in Zimbabwe: A stitch in time could save nine

Healthtimes

“Veld fires start from glowing ash: The numbers dismissed today as small,  can offset the gains made in the national HIV response in the near future.” By Catherine Murombedzi (Internews Health Journalism Network, Mercury Phoenix Trust HIV/AIDS 2023 Fellowship) ZIMBABWE should set aside domestic financial resources to deal with the rising number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) resistant to the treatment of first resort, commonly known as the first line treatment. Donors do not fund second and third line treatment drugs, making this a key health priority for the…

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Tavern Of Life: Concession Pub Transforms Into Vibrant Clinic

Michael Gwarisa

For decades, Dandamira bar in Ward 15, Concession, Mazowe District, had served wise waters to thirsty revellers from within the community and passers-by. Pleasure managers and those who grew up in the area during the Tavern’s heyday confess that the pub would even eclipse some morden urban joints. By Michael Gwarisa Despite the flowery history the building holds, its clients from Dandamira and other surrounding wards were struggling to access basic healthcare services. For several years, people from the community would walk or travel 7 Kilometres to Concession District Hospital…

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Zimbabwe Pilots Rapid Diagnostic Testing for Prompt Bilharzia Testing and Case Identification At Point of Care

Michael Gwarisa

Professor Qin Zhiqing, an Associate Professor at the China National Institute of Parasitic Diseases (NIPR) has been in Zimbabwe for the past two months and together with a team from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), a department in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), they have been conducting a Schistosomiasis pilot study in Shamva District. By Michael Gwarisa As part of their study, they are also assessing the use of Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDT) to detect and identify Schistosomiasis Cases in communities. At a laboratory site…

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Woman Dumped Before Wedding Because She Has Uterine Fibroids

Healthtimes

Medically, Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. Fibroids range in size from seedlings, undetectable by the human eye ,to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus. By Nthokozo Gudu In extreme cases , multiple fibroids can expand the uterus so much that they reach the rib cage and can add weight. After discovering that she had lumps in her stomach, Sarah Mutesva* had to consult the doctors and find out what was going on in her body. I woke up…

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Kaizen 5s Model Improves Quality of Care In Rural Health Facilities

Michael Gwarisa

For Mercy Gowe who works as a linen checker at Mtawatawa District Hospital in Mashonaland East, managing linen and laundry at the health facility a few years ago was a challenge as there was not much of a coordinated system to handle the hospital’s laundry. By Michael Gwarisa in Mashonaland East Her job is to ensure that linen is flowing to patient areas. This includes receiving linen from vendors, distributing, and restocking clean linen via linen carts, picking up soiled/dirty linen carts, and emptying dirty linen containers. The linen includes…

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Bilharzia in Zimbabwe wears a female face…Risk of HIV Infection three times higher in women with Bilharzia

Michael Gwarisa

It’s an early Monday morning, and Portia Guta (35), from Chibondo Village in Shamva District, Mashonaland Central Province, has just learned that she tested positive for Schistosomiasis or Bilharzia. Schistosomiasis, also known as snail fever, is an infection of the urinary tract or bowels, caused by Schistosoma (blood fluke), a flatworm parasite. By Michael Gwrisa in Shamva District Portia was among the participants who got screened for Schistosomiasis during a Pilot Study that was conducted to ascertain the magnitude of Schistosomiasis in the Shamva District. The Pilot project also assessed…

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Prescription drugs mules cashing-in in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

By Takunda Mandura Rampart smuggling of prescription drugs into Zimbabwe is exposing people to a myriad of unforeseen health complications. An investigation conducted by this reporter since January 2023 shows that various prescription drugs are being smuggled from countries neighboring Zimbabwe and this is largely driven by the quick availability of the greenback as well as a readily available market. Various sources contacted by this reporter revealed that the network of prescription drugs mules or smuggles comprise of corrupt border control officials, police officers, and vendors bringing drugs into Zimbabwe…

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A Fruitful Marriage: Urban Voucher System Reduces Maternal Deaths in Harare’s Central Hospitals/Council Clinics

Michael Gwarisa

Like many women in high-density and peri-urban communities, Method Pagiwa (26), from Kuwadzana Phase in Harare, registered her pregnancy with the Antenatal Clinic at Rujeko Polyclinic in Dzivarasekwa, when she was seven months into her pregnancy. This, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards is not recommended as they prescribe that women in developing countries such as Zimbabwe, should seek ANC within four months (17 Weeks) of pregnancy. By Michael Gwarisa On July 7, 2023, Method started experiencing labor pains and her waters broke while she was on her…

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As ICPD30 Beckons, Here Is How Zimbabwe Has Fared In Fulfilling Nairobi Summit Commitments

Michael Gwarisa

IN 2019, Zimbabwe joined the world in Nairobi, Kenya for the 25th International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (ICPD25). The week-long event aimed to strengthen partnerships and harness re-commitments in the continued empowerment of women, and young people and ensuring access to sexual reproductive health (SRH) services. By Michael Gwarisa Next year, 2024, the ICPD will mark 30 years since the ICPD Programme of Action was adopted in 1994 by 179 Member States in Cairo Egypt. The ICPD, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),…

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When Communities Take Up Leading Role In Improving Maternal and Child Health

Michael Gwarisa

When the world locked down in 2020 at the back of a COVID-19 pandemic, all health services left for COVID-19-related interventions were heavily disrupted.  Maternal and Child Health were among some of the most affected services as health facilities offering services continued to face significant challenges compromising the quality of care By Michael Gwarisa Even though data points to an increase in institutional deliveries since the year 2016 in Zimbabwe, a decline was noted during the COVID-19 era. This was largely attributed to the disruption in maternal health services and…

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