Category: Health News

Incapacitated DR-TB Patients Bear The Brunt of Catastrophic Costs

Michael Gwarisa

Nqobizitha Nkomo and his wife from Insiza District in Matebeleland South, were both diagnosed of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) about a year ago. Even though they say they are feeling better,  Nkomo recounts how their situation almost reduced them to beggars of some sort in their quest to sustain their treatment and recovery journey. By Michael Gwarisa Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) is a form of tuberculosis which has developed resistance to the main medicines used to treat TB. This form of TB can be resistant to one or more anti-TB medicines.…

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Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Ban To Reverse HIV/AIDS Gains Says PEPFAR

Michael Gwarisa

THE recently appointed leader of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Ambassador Dr. John N. Nkengasong says the recent move by the Ugandan government to pass a bill that makes identifying as LGBT a crime punishable by death, was not only inhuman but jeopardizes HIV efforts. By Michael Gwarisa According to results of the 2020 Uganda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA), the current prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 49 years in Uganda is 5.5 percent. However in Uganda, it is estimated that  there are…

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HealthTimes Scribe Scoops Merck Foundation Regional Media Award

Kuda Pembere

ZIMBABWEAN journalists excelled at the just held Merck Foundation More than a Mother Media Awards, with HealthTimes Journalist and Editor, Michael Gwarisa emerging one of the winners during the ceremony that was held virtually.  By Kudakwashe Pembere The awards recognized Journalists who did exceptionally well with regards to reporting on Infertility and diabetes on the Africa continent. Michael, a multi award winning health Journalist in Zimbabwe came out third in the Online Media category in a heavily contested competition against fellow Journalists from the Southern African region. In an interview…

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USAID, Mercy Corps Announce USD3 million Food Security Project For Zim

Kuda Pembere

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its ELEVATE project has availed US$3 million to alleviate food insecurity in Makoni, Mutasa and Mutoko districts. By Kuda Pembere The project to be implemented by Mercy Corps, a humanitarian organisation will run for a year targeting 27 844 food insecure households. “ELEVATE focuses on improving the immediate and long-term access and availability of food for vulnerable communities, helping communities cope, adapt, and thrive in the face of shocks and stresses. The project builds on decades of work between USAID and…

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Africa burdened with largest global increase of oral diseases

Michael Gwarisa

Brazzaville – Around 44% of the population in the African region suffer from oral diseases, and while the region has experienced the steepest rise globally in oral diseases over the last three decades, spending on treatment costs remains extremely low, a new report by World Health Organization (WHO) finds. Oral health remains a low priority in many African countries, leading to inadequate financial and technical investment, which in turn undermines prevention and care services as well as oral health promotion. Around 70% of sub-Saharan Africa countries spent less than US$ 1…

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Love Wins. Applauding the Love Shouldn’t Hurt Campaign

Michael Gwarisa

PSI and implementing partner, Population Solutions for Health, implemented a national branded campaign dubbed #LoveShouldntHurt #RudoHarurove #UthandoKaluhlukumezi with funding from the Swedish Government through the Embassy of Sweden. The project ran for 3 years from January 2020 – December 2022, and aimed to prevent GBV, to change behaviors and attitudes to reduce violence among partners (Intimate Partner Violence), engage male peers to act as inherent change makers and increase the number of men and women who believe GBV should not be tolerated in their communities. Beating partners and children is…

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One Confirmed And Four Suspected Cholera Deaths Recorded In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

A cholera confirmed death from Bikita District in Masvingo Province and three  suspected Mozambican nationals in Mbire District in Mash Central Province were recorded in Zimbabwe over the past 24 hours. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Daily Cholera Situation Report, Results for suspected deaths pending. 15 new suspected cholera cases and 4 laboratory confirmed cases were reported today. These were reported from Mbire (10), and Chimanimani (3) and BeitBridge (2). As of 20 March 2023, 7 cases are hospitalized. These are admitted…

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Researchers Close To Identifying Potential Animal Host For COVID-19 Before 2020 Global Outbreak

Healthtimes

FINDINGS from a recent study by the World Health Organization’s  (WHO) Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins on Novel Pathogens (SAGO), suggests that animals were present at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, Wuhan, China shortly before the market had been cleared on 1 January 2020, as part of the public health measures by Chinese authorities. By Staff Reporter These results according SAGO will provide potential leads to identifying intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2 and potential sources of human infections in the market. After discussions with the WHO secretariat and the SAGO…

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NAC in major cancer fundraising boost

Michael Gwarisa

The National AIDS Council has intensified the drive to fight cervical cancer as part of its broader effort to contain new HIV infections and end AIDS by 2030. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking in an interview with HealthTimes on the sidelines of the this year’s eventful Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union Stroke Play Golf Tournament, NAC Chief Executive Officer Dr Bernard Madzima said the target was to raise plus or minus US$100,000 from the fundraising event. NAC Pro-am golf tournament kicked off on Tuesday and the professional tournament also kicked off on…

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Zim recording 8000 new cancer cases every year

Michael Gwarisa

AROUND 8,500 new cancer cases are being diagnosed in Zimbabwe annually, amidst indications that more cancer patients could be dying due to lack diagnosis and treatment at the back of ridiculous treatment linked catastrophic costs. By Michael Gwarisa Data from a 2018 Zimbabwe Cancer Registry Report shows that the total number of new cancer cases recorded then among Zimbabweans of all races (including non-melanoma skin cancer) in 2018 was 7 841 comprising 3 301 (42.1 percent) males and 4 540 (57.9 percent) females. The numbers have since gone up to…

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