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Three Reasons Why The Self-Quarantine Model Won’t Work In Zimbabwe

February 29, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE death toll from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has now reached alarming proportions forcing the World Health Orgnasation (WHO) to escalate the of the flue like bug to “Very High” a move that could soon see WHO declaring the disease as a pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa The WHO said it was too early to call the outbreak a pandemic but countries should be “in a phase of preparedness.” A pandemic is when an infectious disease spreads easily from person to person in many parts of the world. To date, the Covic-19…

Citizen Journalism As A Tool For Advancing Nutrition Awareness At Grassroots

February 27, 2020February 27, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE is currently making positive strides towards addressing the malnutrition burden at the back of rigorous and extensive nutrition interventions by government, civil society and funding partners. Healthy eating and nutrition has also been identified as a platform through which countries can attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By Michael Gwarisa recently in Headlands, Mazowe According to the Zimbabwe 2018 Nutrition Survey report launched by the Food and Nutrition Council, the national rate of child stunting, a manifestation of chronic malnutrition, is 26.2 per cent in Zimbabwe, which means nearly one…

#TalkingAllergies With Prof E. Sibanda: All You Need To Know About Seasonal Allergies

February 17, 2020February 17, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

DID you know that worldwide, the prevalence of allergic diseases are increasing especially in low and middle income countries, our Zimbabwe included. Not only are more allergies related cases being recorded but also the allergies are increasing in their complexity and severity especially in children and young adults. Allergic conditions range from life threatening asthma, food allergies, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, urticarial, eczema, eosinophilic disorders, including eosinophilic esophagitis, and drug and insect allergies. According to the World Allergies Organisation (WOA), globally, 300 million people suffer from asthma and about 200 to 250…

ZIMPHIA 2020 Could Leapfrog Zim Towards Ending AIDS By 2030

February 12, 2020March 6, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

FOR the first time, Gogo Mhlanga (75) of Filabusi in Matebeleland South is seeing the Zimbabwe Population Based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA 2020) survey banner. She wonders what it is all about and why it has been erected close to her homestead. By Michael Gwarisa A few minutes later, the ZIMPHIA 2020 Southern Region Survey Coordinator, Mrs Kudzanayi Moyo walks to her and explains what the message on the banner is saying and why the ZIMPHIA team is in the area. Her face lights up with joy and expresses gratitude…

Study Exposes Correlation Between Diesel Generator Fumes and Rise In Respiratory Diseases in Zim

January 28, 2020January 28, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE has been battling long hours of load shedding and prolonged hours of darkness since early 2019.Most Zimbabweans have resorted to alternative energy sources such as Solar Panels, Gas for cooking and refrigeration, Kerosene, rechargeable lamps and generators. By Michael Gwarisa In as much switching to alternative energy sources is a welcome move, majority of the combustible sources could result in negative health implications. Diesel generators for example produce these small carbon like particles which if inhaled could pose some serious respiratory consequences. According to a study titled,”Health effects of…

Demystifying Asthma: One On One With Asthma and Allergies Guru

January 23, 2020January 23, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

HAVE you ever felt like a 100 inch mega Wrench is grippingly tightening your chest and your lungs are about to explode and its driving you crazy? You gasp for air, and you feel this tense sensation accompanied by a dry cough and whizzing. You feel dead already and the temptation to sing “Nearer My God To Thee” is so compelling. Don’t panic as yet, its probably Asthma and all hope is not lost as yet. With earlier diagnosis, proper treatment and management the symptoms could be gone within weeks.…

How Animal Medications Are Fueling Drug Resistance In Humans

January 21, 2020January 22, 2020 Healthtimes

ITS 10:00 in the morning and a Harare man walks into one of the Agroshops licensed as Veterinary Medicine General Dealers in the central business district enquiring of a possible remedial solution for his dying chickens. By Kudakwashe Pembere Panting heavily and with a sad look, he tells the cashier the symptoms. Even though the attendant advises that the man takes the dead chickens for a post mortem, he proceeds to dispense some Oxytetetracycline which he says could cure the birth flue and get rid of the bacterial infection. He…

Desperate Zimbos Turn To Crowd Funding For Healthcare Financing

January 20, 2020January 20, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

IN a country where medical aid coverage is less than 10 percent, ordinary Zimbabweans who can’t afford medical aid cover and health insurance have found solace in crowd funding initiatives for critical surgeries and treatment for complicated ailments. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Association of Healthcare Funders Zimbabwe (AHFoZ), medical aid coverage has dropped from a high of 10 percent in 2018 to the current 9 percent, making it untenable for majority of Zimbabweans whose life savings and hard earned cash has turned into manure since August 2018 at…

Mberengwa Cries For Help…Battles High ARVs Coverage Gap

December 10, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

AT a time when other districts are doing well in terms of advancing treatment and care to Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) clients, Mberengwa remains in the negative despite efforts by partners and the ministry of health and child care to advance treatment to the area. Mberengwa has a low ART coverage of 44, 5 percent as of last year, making it one the districts with the highest ART gap (3,000 – 10,000) along with 19 other districts which include Zvimba, Gokwe, Chipinge, Bulawayo, Goromonzi, Insiza, Umguza, Kwekwe, Mt Darwin, Lupane, Mazowe,…

2019 Top 10 Health Champions

December 9, 2019December 9, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

IT’S that time of the year once again where we appreciate and honour those who sacrificed their time, resources and life to the good cause of advancing quality health services in various communities around the country. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s health sector is currently in the doldrums and only a miracle of double proportion can resurrect this ailing industry. The year 2019 was characterised by massive job actions by health personnel, lack of sundries and hospital equipment to mention just a few challenges. However, despite these challenges, some individuals remained…