Category: Child Health

Sweden Allocates US$5.8 Million to UNICEF for Child Protection Programmes

Michael Gwarisa

IN a move that is set to boost support for child protection programs in Zimbabwe, the government of Sweden has allocated an amount to the tune of US$5.8 Million to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), a UN agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. By Michael Gwarisa The funding will support different key interventions to protect children against violence, abuse and exploitation. The Swedish funding is part of the child protection fund 3, a multi-donor fund mechanism which is open to all partners entrusted in…

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French Government supports routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccination in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

WITH World Health Day commemorations slated for April 8, 2023 looming, the Ambassador of France, HE Laurent Chevallier, and the French Regional Counselor for Global Health in Southern Africa, Dr Thomas Mourez, recently had a field visit in Harare assessing how the country is faring in routine immunization. The visit was facilitated by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and UNICEF. By Staff Reporter The visit comes after the French Government contributed 2.5 million USD towards the COVAX facility programme. The funding will strengthen routine immunization and the integration…

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KidzCan Zimbabwe Joins St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Global Alliance

Michael Gwarisa

IN a move that is set to open international networking and support, educational opportunities and the inspiration of a globally shared mission –finding cures and saving children, everywhere, KidzCan Zimbabwe has join the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Global Alliance. By Staff Reporter Making the announcement, Daniel Mckenzie KidzCan Zimbabwe Executive Director said the recent development funds them joining more than 180 esteemed members from more than 68 countries around the world. Being voted into the Global Alliance is an honor. Global foundation partners must be assessed, recommended and sponsored…

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Nearly 40 million children are dangerously susceptible to growing measles threat

Michael Gwarisa

Measles vaccination coverage has steadily declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, a record high of nearly 40 million children missed a measles vaccine dose: 25 million children missed their first dose and an additional 14.7 million children missed their second dose, a joint publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. This decline is a significant setback in global progress towards achieving and maintaining measles elimination and leaves millions of children susceptible to infection. In…

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Zim medicines regulator intensifies surveillance of ‘child killer’ cold and cough syrups

Kuda Pembere

Zimbabwe’s medicines and medical devices regulator the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) says it is stepping up its surveillance of four medical products which killed 69 children in Gambia. By Kudakwashe Pembere While chances are slim that the cough and cold syrups might have found their way into the country, the Authority states they may have unprocedurally found their way in Zimbabwe. In a statement, MCAZ Acting Director General Mr Richard Rukwata notified health professionals in the public of the existence of the lethal medical products. “The Medicines Control…

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Chipinge Broken Homes and Blended Families Give Rise Mental Health challenges in adolescents and children

Michael Gwarisa

WHEN his parents divorced in 2016, Panashe Dzvivu (19) from Chipinge urban, was doing form three and preparing to write his Ordinary level (O level) examinations the following year. Following the divorce, his father went into neighbouring South Africa and never looked back, leaving him under the custody of his unemployed mother. After some time, he was forced to drop out of school due to non-payment of school fees. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Chipinge Panashe was forced to juggle between school and a part welding job to pay for…

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Economic Induced Absenteeism Weighs Heavily On the Mental Health of Rural Manicaland School Children

Michael Gwarisa

For Alice Nyatsanga (16), school days are not something to cherish as they usually involve cat and mouse games with school authorities due to non-payment of school fees. To raise money for tuition, stationery and food, Alice is forced to join her grandmother in doing casual work in people’s fields as well as sell firewood by the road side along the busy Mutare/Masvingo Highway. By Michael Gwarisa in  Manicaland Province “At times, when we open schools, it does not matter lessons would have started, I have to abandon school for…

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WHO Urges Previously Vaccinated Children below 5 Years To Get Measles Vaccines

Healthtimes

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Alex Gasasira has advised parents to take their children for vaccination regardless of their previous vaccination status. By Catherine Murombedzi The call comes in the midst of a raging Measles outbreak that since claimed 698 lives and infected a cumulative total of 6 291 Cases, while 4 459 have recovered. Speaking in a telephone interview, Dr Gasasira said children between 6 months to under 5 years should be vaccinated irrespective of prior vaccination status. “We urge parents and guardians to bring all…

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Parents of children with CHD lobby Parly

Healthtimes

PARENTS, guardians of children with heart diseases are forking out USD30 000 for open heart surgeries which are done overseas, parliamentarians heard on Tuesday. By Kuda Pembere Brave Little Hearts Zimbabwe, an organisation representing the interests of children with heart diseases on Tuesday petitioned the Health and Child Care parliamentary portfolio committee to look into challenges facing these children. BLHZ director Ms Tendai Moyo said the most common of pediatric heart diseases can be corrected in Zimbabwe instead of going abroad. Most of the children are born with a complete…

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Make measles vaccination mandatory for Mapostori Children -VP Chiwenga told

Michael Gwarisa

HEALTH Policy and Public Health experts have advised health and child care Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to act with speed and make measles vaccination mandatory in children from apostolic sects. By Michael Gwarisa This call comes in the midst of a sharp increase in new measles cases and deaths mainly in children between the ages 6 to 16 from apostolic religious sects, a development that has prompted government to activate the country’s Civil Protection Unit Act. Speaking to HealthTimes, Health Law Policy Expert, Mr Tinashe Mundawarara said the country’s…

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