Category: Features

Of Rape and HIV Infection, The Plight Of Refugees In Transit

Healthtimes

HAD it not been for the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eunice, (not her real name) could  have been completing  her university  studies this year. By Melody Chikono Fate has somehow found her stuck deep in  Tongogara refugee camp in Chipinge  where she  has not been able to continue with her studies and bright future aspirations are fading by the day. The war has left untold spiritual and physical wounds which can physically be felt  as she narrates her ordeal. The difficulties she experienced on her journey…

Read More

Mnangagwa Can Learn One or Two Things From Paul Kagame

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE is currently going through a new political dispensation following the resignation of former President Robert Mugabe who had ruled the country for 37 years, paving way for former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa. By Michael Gwarisa Through out Mugabe’s 37 year rule, Mnanagwa has been his wing man and unarguably his most trusted lieutenant. In the process, he (Mnangagwa) also attracted a bad name tag as a result of the atrocities that were committed by the Mugabe regime. It takes more than just a miracle to correct an image which…

Read More

“Chigubhu Gear”, Tackling Water and Sanitation At Grassroots Level

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa recently in Siakobvu, Kariba  GOVERNMENT in partnership with Save the Children and other non governmental organizations has embarked on  widespread Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene  (WASH) projects in various districts around the country. According to Water and Sanitation experts, poor adherence to sanitation and hygiene expectations could lead to serious malnutrition cases as a result of diarrheal diseases which cause severe wasting of the body especially in  children below the age of five. Adhering to basic WASH requirement is simple, just ensure you have access to clean…

Read More

Polygamy Hampers Nutrition Interventions in Binga

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa in Binga, Matelele POLYGAMY is one oldest practice in African culture including Zimbabwe. Back in the day, having more than one wife was a sign of power and wealth and men could be revered for exhibiting such capabilities. More women would translate to greater yields and productivity in the fields was guaranteed as the women would bear more children  who would work in the fields hence making him a household name in the community. In modern-day Rural Matelele Village in Binga, Polygamy is not a crime and…

Read More

The Nomads Of Siakobvu…A Sad Reality Caused By Droughts and Malnutrition

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa in Kariba, Siakobvu A 350 kilometer drive through the woods and dense forest from Kariba town through a meandering dusty and partially gravel road leads one to an almost invisible settlement called Siakobvu  in Nyaminyami rural district. Every year, the people in the area have to contend with little food hand-outs they get from well-wishers and non-governmental organisations owing to the perennial hunger and critical food shortages the community experiences annually. Even though some farmers in the area have already commenced land preparations for the 2017/18 cropping season,…

Read More

Survival against all odds-The story of Siphiwe Sindisi

Healthtimes

Around the year 2003, the HIV epidemic was a disease of unimaginable proportions both in trying to contain it and being diagnosed with it. Being infected with the disease meant a condemnation to a life of isolation as the society as well shunned those who had the disease. That was the very time, the late Siphiwe Sindisi, a registered general nurse based in Mt Darwin learnt of her HIV positive status when her husband died of the same disease. This publication met up with Siphiwe, some weeks before her demise,…

Read More

Initiate Every Prisoner On Prep Upon Sentencing

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa THERE is a raging debate on whether prisoners should be allowed access to condoms during their incarceration period in order to prevent HIV transmission in among prison inmates. According to statistics, male prisons have an HIV prevalence rate of about 24 percent of which much of the infection is believed to be happening during their tenure in prisons as a result of sodomy activities. During a Parliamentary HIV awareness meeting in Kariba recently, elders and parliamentarians argued along the lines of having condoms distributed in prisons or…

Read More

Malnutrition Almost Killed My 2 year Old Baby…Woman Narrates Ordeal

Healthtimes

“At that time, she was 1 year 7 months old, I had already introduced her to solid foods, I would say I started feeding her porridge  a day after she was born not knowing it would affect my child…” By Michael Gwarisa recently in Shamva “Mwana anofanira kudya tuporridge tu tete tete, kana tumahewu netumvura kuti asimbe mudumbu, ukaona mwana achiramba kuyamwa anenge achichema zita!” Loosely translated “A new born baby must and should be fed porridge, or traditional non-alcoholic brew or water, if you see your child crying all…

Read More

The Power Of Women Support Groups in Scaling Up Nutrition

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa recently in Shamva ZIMBABWE witnessed a surge in child malnutrition cases in the years 2015/16 owing to the Elnino induced drought which left millions of Zimbabweans from most parts of the country in need of food aid. According to information gathered by Save the Children Zimbabwe a Non- Governmental Organisation which deals with issues affecting children and their rights, cases of Severe Malnutrition were recorded over the past two years as a result of the droughts and extreme cases were documented in Binga, Chegutu, Kariba, Shamva and…

Read More

How I Survived Breast Cancer…The Story Of Sally Westwood

Healthtimes

 By Sally Westwood “You have a Lobular Carcinoma, and it’s a nasty one.” My stomach dropped to the floor in shock. That can’t be right. There’s no cancer in my family. “But the good news is”, my doctor continued “it’s a stage 1, at a very early stage.” Twelve years previously I had had breast reduction surgery and ever since my annual mammograms had shown up several ‘fatty necrosis’, which are common lumps after breast surgery or trauma of any kind. My mammogram in April had shown these up again…

Read More