Category: Health News

The silent weight of love – a mother’s journey raising a child with disability

Healthtimes

Abstract The birth of a child with a disability presents significant psychological challenges for mothers, often resulting in heightened emotional distress, including grief, depression, and anxiety. Mothers raising children with disabilities often bear a profound, yet silent, emotional and physical burden.  This article reviews the psychological effects experienced by these mothers, identifies contributing factors, and discusses evidence-based interventions to mitigate adverse outcomes. Understanding these dynamics is critical for healthcare providers to offer comprehensive care and support. Introduction   The arrival of a new-born typically signifies hope and joy. However, when a…

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Pharmaceutical Industry Stakeholders Warn of ‘Disaster’ After Scrapping Veterinary Product Permits

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Scrapping the permit for trading in veterinary products is akin to shooting oneself in the foot, pharmaceutical industry experts have warned. This follows Cabinet’s decision to cancel permits previously issued by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ). Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere announced the decision at a post-Cabinet briefing last week. “Cabinet approved the consolidation of fragmented licensing requirements into a single license, the streamlining of duplicative and overlapping licences and permits, the removal of unnecessary levies and fees, and the lowering…

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Fee Reductions Possible, but Industry Must Brace for Impact, MCAZ Boss says

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has responded to concerns raised by players in the pharmaceutical supply chain by agreeing to review pharmacist licensing fees and consignment verification charges for human and animal health products. Speaking during an Ease of Doing Business stakeholder meeting convened by the Authority, MCAZ Director General Mr. Richard Rukwata said the concerns raised by the industry were valid and would be addressed. “This issue is doable. I think we can definitely rationalize that to a marginal fee less than half of…

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Call for stronger regional collaboration to improve adolescent SRHR access

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere At a time when some East and Southern African (ESA) countries are reviewing their legal frameworks on the age of consent to improve access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for adolescents and young people, Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) chief executive officer Farai Machinga has called for stronger regional collaboration to ensure collective progress. Machinga made the call while officiating a two day Regional SRHR Meeting organized by Youth Advocates, Restless Development, and the Centre for the Study of Adolescence, with technical and financial…

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AI Powered Chatbot Shows Promise in Smoking Cessation

Michael Gwarisa

WASHINGTON (Oct. 13, 2025) — A pilot study led by researchers at the George Washington University found that people who smoke were open to using a specialized ChatGPT-based chatbot, called BeFreeBot, to help them quit smoking. The research team sought to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the tool among smokers, as well as the tool’s reliability. A majority of participants who engaged the chatbot were highly satisfied with the tool, according to the study. The findings, published in JMIR Formative Research, suggest that AI chatbots could strengthen existing smoking cessation programs…

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UNICEF and FAWEZI Launch RISE Programme to Empower 24,000 Adolescent Girls

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) commemorated the International Day of the Girl Child with the launch of the Adolescent Girls Programme, titled Resilient, Innovative, Skilled, and Empowered Girls (RISE). The initiative will be implemented by the Forum for African Women Educationalists Zimbabwe Chapter (FAWEZI). The event took place at Seke 5 High School on Saturday. UNICEF Representative to Zimbabwe, Ms. Etona Ekole, officiating the launch, emphasized the importance of amplifying girls’ voices. “As we gather today to launch this adolescent girls’ programme, we also celebrate the…

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Vaccination Campaign Gains Momentum as More Children Receive Vitamin A supplements and Measles Jabs

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere in Ruwa Health officials are upbeat about the increasing number of children being vaccinated under the ongoing vitamin A supplementation and measles rubella vaccination campaign, which began Monday. Although uptake was low on the first day, it improved in the following days after visits by Health Ambassador and Zimbabwe’s First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, the Minister of Health and Child Care Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, and his deputy Hon. Sleiman Kwidini. Journalists visited Caledonia Clinic and Ruwa Polyclinic during a tour organized by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF to assess progress in…

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ZNFPC appoints Machinga as the new CEO

Healthtimes

By Columbus Mavhunga Harare: Farai Machinga is the new substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) having been in an acting role for some time. In a statement, ZNFPC said Machinga took the position since the beginning of this month. Mr Machinga is a distinguished public health specialist with over a decade of extensive experience across various developmental sectors including government, and non-governmental settings,” said ZNFPC. “In his previous role as acting CEO, Mr Machinga led ZNFPC to many outstanding corporate and personal achievements.…

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Hivos Hosts High-Level SRHR Meeting in Harare to Tackle Youth Access Barriers

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere As East and Southern African (ESA) countries continue to grapple with inadequate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services—particularly for adolescents and young people—Hivos’ Regional Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Fund convened a high-level strategic meeting in Harare on Thursday. The two-day event, held from Thursday to Friday, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including legislators, religious leaders, advocacy groups, and members of the judiciary. Central to the discussions was the contentious issue of the “age of consent” and its impact on access to SRH services…

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Domestic Health Financing To Be Top Of The Agenda For CPHIA 2025

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The tone has already been set for the hosting of the Fourth International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025) scheduled for Durban, South Africa from October 22 to 25, 2025. The conference will deliberate on numerous issues, chief among them domestic health financing, as Africa seeks sustainable solutions amid dwindling donor support. The meeting will be held under the theme “Moving Towards Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa” and will be co-hosted by the Africa CDC and the Government of…

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