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After Falling Off The Radar, Orphaned HIV Positive Boy Develops High Viral Load

April 4, 2022April 4, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

A few minutes after bringing her son into this world, Simba Ncube’s* mother lost her life to AIDS related complications in 2010. Luckily before she died, Simba’s mother had registered her cousin sister, Ms Pride Ncube* as the next of kin and guardian to her child. On the fateful day, the hospital called Ms Ncube informing her that her sister had died and had indicated that she wanted her to raise her child. By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare However, a family feud ensued shortly afterwards with Simba’s maternal grandparents demanding…

Manicaland Child Marriage Survivors Find Solace In Economic Strengthening Programs

April 3, 2022April 4, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

DUE to economic hardships and prolonged schools closure at the back of recurrent COVID-19 induced lockdowns, Marvelous Tsambe* (16) from Chikore Village in Chimanimani entered into an early child marriage at the age 14 as an escape from the challenges back home. However, to her surprise, marriage did not bring the much anticipated economic escape. By Michael Gwarisa in Manicaland Just like most girls her age in her area, Marvelous fell for Majoni-Joni or those young men who illegally cross the border to work in South Africa. Whenever they return…

Towards an AIDS Free Generation, Nyazura Celebrates PMTCT Milestone

March 31, 2022March 31, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

“GETTING initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) as well as registering for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) program early has been the best decision I have ever made,” said Tracey Makoni* (27) from Nyazura, in Manicaland province during an interview with HealthTimes on a media tour that was organised by the Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT). Tracey has five children and even though they were born after she had already tested positive for HIV, none amongst them has HIV, thanks to the PMTCT program being offered…

Learning from women’s experiences during childbirth to improve quality of care

March 23, 2022 Healthtimes

A special supplement from WHO and HRP, newly published in BMJ Global Health, spotlights how women and their newborn babies are treated during childbirth and offers a path to improved facility-based care.More and more evidence shows that women across the world face unacceptable mistreatment during childbirth. Women everywhere face violations of their rights – including rights to privacy, informed consent, and the right have a trusted companion of choice throughout childbirth. Own Correspondent Mistreatment can seriously erode trust in the health facility, which can mean that women are less likely…

Unpacking Dr Nhapi’s Ambitious Victoria Falls World Class Health Facility Vision

March 23, 2022March 24, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

DURING President Emerson Mnangangwa’s recent visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he met various Zimbabwean business people and experts working in various fields who expressed eagerness and zeal to invest back home. Amongst those he interacted with was one, Dr Allan Nhapi, an Australian based Zimbabwean Doctor, who made a moving plea to the head of state to at least be allocated land to build a world class health facility in the country. By Michael Gwarisa To honor his wish, the government of Zimbabwe has since set aside a…

Positive living: Understanding HIV viral load

March 22, 2022 Healthtimes

By Tariro Mhute and Dr Pardon Maringe Behind the famous National Flats in Mbare, you will find Fungai* in his makeshift barber shop with a plastic and wood roof and walls made from cardboard boxes. The streets are busy, a common feature in the oldest high density residential area in Zimbabwe. A dreadlocked gentleman hangs from a commuter omnibus dressed in low-slung blue jeans and worn-out sneakers shouting, “town here?” colloquial language commonly used by touts which means “are you going to town?”. Fungai greets his third customer of the…

Three Times TB Survivor Now Leading Fight against TB from the Front

March 21, 2022March 21, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

Barbara Farashishko (52) from Mabvuku, Harare, will always remember the year 1995 as they year her entire life changed completely following a Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis at Parirenyatwa Hospital. The events that followed her positive TB diagnosis led to a plethora of misfortunes such as losing her Job, loss of family, massive stigma from family and society and above all, two more TB reinfections in the years that followed. By Michael Gwarisa Her TB journey started when she was pregnant in 1995 after she began coughing and experiencing shortness of breath…

Zim Women Doctors Making Waves

March 9, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

IN the beginning, the medical profession was sacred ground and somehow, a preserve for men. However over the years, women have made remarkable contributions to the field of medicine. As women around the world were permitted to graduate from medical schools, their accomplishments became more influential and far-reaching. In 1847, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. She was born in England but raised and educated in New York City. Years later, more women in Europe and the Americas enrolled for…

How Media and Journalists Indirectly Promote Suicide

March 8, 2022August 5, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

MEDIA play a critical role in society and without them, the world would suffer from information deficiency. The four functions of media are to inform, persuade, transmit culture, and entertain. It requires only responsible media to have that hazard perception skill or that fifth sense that tells them beforehand the implications their message could have on individuals and society and large. By Michael Gwarisa In the wrong hands, media can be dangerous and lethal, hence the old adage, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Media reportage of mental health…

“Handisi Mu Departure Lounge!” Pioneer Of HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Campaign Still Going Strong

March 3, 2022March 3, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

SOME of you might still remember back in the day, around 2004 when a man, Pastor Reki Jimu would appear on a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) Television sponsored program Positive Talk saying these words, “Handisi Mu Depature Lounge, ndiri kurarama ndiri HIV positive,” loosely translated, I am not in the departure lounge, I am just someone living positively with HIV. Those were the days AIDS claimed lives and accounted for majority of deaths in the country. There was no antiretroviral therapy (ART) back them. By Michael Gwarisa It is possible…