Category: Health News

Zimbabwe Hosts Global School-based Student Health Survey Multi Country Training

Michael Gwarisa

A four day Multi-country training on the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) is underway in Harare, Zimbabwe, amidst growing calls for countries to conduct new studies around children’s health behaviours so as to come up with tangible evidence and data to inform policy. By Michael Gwarisa The training is being attended by participants from Ministries of Health and the NCD focal persons from the WHO Country Offices from Cabo Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The GSHS is a low-cost collaborative surveillance project designed to help…

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Chief Charumbira faces arrest over sexual indecency

Healthtimes

CHIEF Fortune Charumbira has been charged for sexual indecency after he allegedly fondled and kissed his niece without her consent. By Staff Reporter He is the President of the Chief’s Council of Zimbabwe and also the President of the Pan African Parliament. The niece Paidamoyo Majaya aged 27 reported the case at Masvingo Police Central which has since been transferred to Harare. It is alleged the two met twice on different occassions in Harare where Chief Charumbira allegedly fondled her without her consent. He was charged under the INDECENT ASSAULT…

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Zimbabwe Suspends Use Of Pholcodine Cough Medicines Use

Kuda Pembere

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has halted the use of medicines containing the pholcodine substance after learning it causes life threatening adverse reactions. By Kuda Pembere In a statement, MCAZ Director General Mr Richard Rukwata said they found that use of pholcodine a year before general anasthesia had high risk of getting anaphylactic reactions. Available data indicated that the use of pholcodine in the twelve (12) months before general anesthesia with neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) such as suxamethonium, and atracurium is a risk factor for developing an anaphylactic…

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Women With Disabilities Become Targets Of Rape In Zimbabwe

Kuda Pembere

WOMEN and girls with disabilities are increasingly becoming easy targets for Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) as they struggle to report the abuse due to lack of disability friendly referral pathways for sexual abuse. By Kudakwashe Pembere This was said by Deaf Women Included board vice-chairperson, Ms Cleopatra Nyaku on Thursday on the sidelines of a Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Disability Inclusivity workshop. As DWI our position on Gender based violence is that our constituency which is mainly women and girls with disabilities particularly those with hearing impairments, are…

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Balancing the scale: “Addressing health equity for marginalised communities in Zimbabwe”.

Healthtimes

By Retlaw Matatu Matorwa Health equity remains one of the most pressing challenges faced by marginalized communities in Zimbabwe. Improving health equity is not only a moral obligation but also a critical component of promoting social justice, fostering economic development, and creating a more equitable society. Marginalized communities in Zimbabwe are those who face systematic disadvantages, such as poverty, low education, rural residence, sex, and ethnicity. These communities experience higher rates of disease and mortality compared to the rest of the population, and they are more likely to experience barriers…

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UZ hailed for establishing International Centre for Surgical Simulation

Kuda Pembere

THE University of Zimbabwe has been commended for setting up the International Centre for Surgical Simulation (UZICSS) which shall become a game-changer with its laparoscopic or key-hole surgery curricula for local and regional students. By Kudakwashe Pembere Specialist surgeons from Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United States, Namibia, and Uganda are in the country for a symposium and training of keen students who want to specialize and enhance their skills of laparoscopic surgery. Speaking to HealthTimes on the sidelines of a surgical symposium which ended Saturday, UZ Professorial…

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World Health Organization Turns 75, Commemorates World Health Day with Renewed Commitment to Health for All

Michael Gwarisa

This World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Established in 1948 by countries around the world, WHO’s mission is to promote health, ensure global safety, and serve the vulnerable, with the ultimate goal of achieving the highest level of health and well-being for all. By Own Correspondent With a presence in over 150 offices and working with 194 Member States across six regions.  At the heart of #healthforall is the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), where people can have access to affordable, equitable,…

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UHC A Pipe-dream Without Increasing Per-Capita Spending On Healthcare

Kuda Pembere

ZIMBABWE’S per capita health spending is expected to increase by 100 percent from US$20 in 2022 to US$40 this year which however remains far less than what other countries are spending on their people, a leading health economist has said. By Kuda Pembere In a Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) 2023 budget analysis for the health sector, Dr Prosper Chitambara said the country is still spending less of its gross domestic product on health in comparison to other countries. Zimbabwe’s per capita spending on health is still about twice…

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Zimbabwe Parliament Proposes Harsh Penalties For Men Who Impregnate 10 Year Olds

Michael Gwarisa

FOLLOWING release of the Vital Statistics Report by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat), which shows that 696 girls aged 10 to 14 gave 12 months before the Census night in 2022, Parliament is now demanding action from the ministries of health and that of home affairs. By Michael Gwarisa   According to the report, over 68,639 teenagers aged 15 to 19 also fell pregnant and gave birth during the same period. The issue has since attracted national attention, with most members of Parliament agreeing that stricter penalties should be…

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Zimbabwe AVAC Fellow Wins BIG

Healthtimes

This month marks one year since Onward Chironda become an AVAC fellow for Zimbabwe. Onward who is a renowned youth leader and advocate for the Health, Rights, and well-being of young people in their diversity became a fellow in 2022. By Staff Reporter Onward is part of the fellowship among other fellows in South Africa, Uganda, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, and Kenya who are doing similar work in advocacy and engagement work to ensure that duty bearers in terms of governments and civil society actors are held accountable for guaranteeing the…

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