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Bad Roads Induced Maternal Deaths Fears Rise Ahead of Rainy Season

September 12, 2019September 13, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

EVEN though Memory Chimpinyi (26) from Skyline in Chimanimani gave birth to her baby a month before the Tropical Cyclone Idai disaster struck, the after effects of the storm are currently having a direct negative impact on her post-natal hospital visits. By Michael Gwarisa in Chimanimani Every month she visits Chimanimani Rural District Hospital which is located eight kilometers away from her home through a meandering road and rugged terrain. The dilapidated road and bridges which were washed away by the ferocious monsoon brings some inconceivable anxiety and trauma to…

Pediatric HIV Drug Resistance Testing, Zim’s Health Time-bomb

August 31, 2019August 31, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

APPROXIMATELY 1.8 million children under the age of 15 have HIV globally, and almost 90% are living in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) with 77,000 of those in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa Efforts are underway in Zimbabwe to initiate as many children as possible who are born HIV positive on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), and Zimbabwe seem to be winning on that front. However, even with access to ART, rates of treatment success for children and adolescents are lower than adults across Africa. According to Johnson and Johnson, Children are more prone…

Why Decriminalising HIV Transmission is The Way To Go For Zim

August 21, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

OVER the past few months, there has been talk around the subject of decriminalising HIV transmission. The minister of Justice, Honorable Ziyambi Ziyambi told Parliament that government was planning to decriminalise wilful transmission of HIV following the gazetting of the Marriage Bill. By Michael Gwarisa Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which include the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Katswe Sisterhood, Zimbabwe Aids Network (ZAN), Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) among others have been advocating for the repealing of Section 79 of the Criminal law which criminalises…

GBV, The Evil Unfinished Business Stalking Zim

August 10, 2019August 10, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

AFTER being confronted by her husband Tobias on countless times over her refusal to return to her parents’ home, Loveness (Not real Names) found herself at the receiving end of unrelenting abuse at the hands of her husband of four years. By Michael Gwarisa As the argument ensued one day, Tobias took an axe and without hesitation struck his wife three times on the head before fleeing the scene. By taking a glance at the oozing blood and the grisly scene of her bludgeoned head, one could conclude that Loveness…

Lafarge In Revolutionary Breakthrough For Breastfeeding Mothers

July 17, 2019July 17, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

BREASTFEEDING is considered a basic need for every infant of breastfeeding age and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a baby should be exclusively breastfed for up to six months before introducing him/her to complimentary foods until at least the age of two years. By Michael Gwarisa According to nutrition experts, the first 1000 days are the most crucial for an infant’s brain development and this can only be attained through adequate and exclusive breastfeeding. In developing countries however, poverty and its attendant condition, malnutrition, weaken this foundation, leading…

Lois Chingandu Joins Frontline AIDS

July 2, 2019July 2, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

RENOWNED HIV and sexual reproductive health rights expert, Lois Chingandu has joined Frontline AIDS, a leading HIV and AIDS response organisation as its new Director of Evidence and Influence . By Michael Gwarisa Lois joins Frontline AIDS at a pivotal time for the organisation after serving at the helm of SAFAIDS Zimbabwe as Executive Director. The organisation, Frontline rebranded in February 2019 and is set to launch a new Global Plan of Action later this year and Lois together with her new team will play a central role in generating…

Depression: Silent Killer for Young Girls & Women Living With HIV

June 17, 2019June 18, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

PUBERTY is one stage associated with anxiety, joy and stress for young girls transitioning from childhood to adulthood. The hormonal and reproductive changes which include the bulging bust, widening of hips, protruding hindquarters and menstrual flows all just come too fast within a short space of time. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Gweru However, for adolescents and young girls living with HIV, this phase could be traumatic and heart rending in the absence of proper counselling and psychosocial support. Phyliss Mavushe (24), a young person living with HIV and also…

Integrated Nutrition And WASH Project Transforms Binga Fortunes

May 30, 2019May 30, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

NUTRITION is a basic human right and has been identified as the most pertinent and key component in ensuring countries achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), hence the need for a multisectoral nutrition security approach towards realising nutrition goals for citizens. By Michael Gwarisa in Binga Despite most governments including Zimbabwe having committed to advancing nutrition centered solutions as well as ending malnutrition by the year 2030, more still needs to be done to realise this vision. In Binga, the issue of food insecurity as a result of reoccurring droughts has…

OVC Program: Hope for HIV positive mothers

May 21, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

IT is a beautiful Tuesday morning and Sarudzai (36) wakes up very early at the break of dawn to do her household chores and prepare her eldest 12-year-old child for school. Limping, she does her chores methodically and thoroughly. Health Correspondent Sarudzai is living with a disability, her left leg is deformed since birth but she has mastered the art of doing everything on her own and fend for her family. The married mother of three from Mutimuri Village in Chegutu District is living with HIV but she has since…

Demystifying Dolutegravir based antiretroviral drug regimens

May 20, 2019May 20, 2019 Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE recently joined other nations to adopt the new HIV treatment regimens that contain Dolutegravir (DTG). The complete transition process for Zimbabwe however, will not take less than 10 months to be fully implemented considering that the country has over a million people on first line HIV medicines. By Michael Gwarisa and Dr. Simbarashe Mabaya Countries adopt normative guidance by the World Health Organization (WHO) which is based on rigorous review and analysis of scientific evidence. Based on this review WHO develops recommendations which make up the next guidelines. Countries…