Category: Health News

Countries No Longer Sharing COVID-19 Sequencing Data- Dr Tedros

Michael Gwarisa

THE number of COVID-19 sequences being shared by countries has dropped by more than 90% while the number of countries sharing sequences has fallen by a third since the onset of the Omicron variant in 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a media briefing, WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was now difficult to give data relating to COVID-19 due to lack of sequencing data. It’s now three years since the first sequence of SARS-CoV-2 was shared with the world.…

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How COVID can disturb your sleep and dreams – and what could help

Healthtimes

If you’ve had trouble sleeping during or after a COVID infection, you’re not alone. By the end of 2022, more than 650 million COVID infections had been reported to the World Health Organization. With the true number likely much higher, and the tally increasing by hundreds of thousands every week, the scientific community has been focused on understanding the impact of COVID on our physical health, mental health and brain function. By The Conversation In the early stage of the pandemic, sleep scientists charted the costs and benefits of lockdowns…

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#BREAKING: Uganda Declares End Of Ebola Outbreak

Michael Gwarisa

Uganda today declared the end of the Ebola disease outbreak caused by Sudan ebolavirus, less than four months after the first case was confirmed in the country’s central Mubende district on 20 September 2022. Uganda put a swift end to the Ebola outbreak by ramping up key control measures such as surveillance, contact tracing and infection, prevention and control. While we expanded our efforts to put a strong response in place across the nine affected districts, the magic bullet has been our communities who understood the importance of doing what…

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Zim Health Workers Slam Draconian Health Services Law

Michael Gwarisa

ORGANIZATIONS representing healthcare workers in Zimbabwe have lampooned the recently approved Health Services Act, which they believe will only worsen the situation for ordinary health seeking citizens as it will trigger fresh exodus of skilled health personnel into lucrative markets. By Michael Gwarisa The new law will see health workers who call for industrial action being liable to a fine not exceeding level 4 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment. In an interview with HealthTimes, Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA)…

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Merck Foundation Announces Winners For Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit Awards 2022

Michael Gwarisa

• Merck Foundation announced the winners of Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS Awards winners 2022, 7 Researchers from 7 different African Countries recognized for two categories – Best African Women Researchers and Best Young African Researchers. • Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS 2022 Awards was in partnership with African Union Scientific Technical Research Commission. • Merck Foundation also announces the Call for Applications for Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS Awards 2023 to empower Women and Youth in STEM in Africa with special focus on…

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Zimbabwe Signs Tough Health Services Bill Into Law…Health Workers Who Call For Strike To Be Jailed 6 Months

Michael Gwarisa

DESPITE widespread condemnation of the Health Services Bill at consultation level, Zimbabwe has proceeded to sign the controversial Health Services Act into law. By Staff Reporter According to the new law, any individual who is a member of the governing body of any trade union or representative body of members of the Health Service which incites or organises any collective job action contrary to subsection shall be guilty of any an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 4 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six…

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HIV Related Cancers On The Decline In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

NEW data released by the Zimbabwe Cancer Registry (ZCR) shows a decline in HIV related cancers owing to increased coverage cancer screening services coupled with other HIV treatment and care services countrywide. By Michael Gwarisa According to the latest Zimbabwe Cancer Registry Report which looked at the Pattern of Cancer in Zimbabwe, the total number of new cancer cases recorded among Zimbabweans of all races (including non-melanoma skin cancer) in 2018 was 7 841 comprising 3 301 (42.1%) males and 4 540 (57.9%) females. While over 7000 new cases of…

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Blood For Fuel Coupons: Has The NBSZ Finally Struck The Right Code?

Michael Gwarisa

THE 2018 proclamation by the then Minister of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr David Parirenytwa of a free blood initiative in all public health institutions has resulted in increased demand for the precious liquid. As a result, the country’s blood bank has been running on less than the required stocks for a prolonged period now. By Michael Gwarisa According to global blood stocks standards, a healthy blood bank should have at least five days’ supply at any given time. However, in most cases, the Zimbabwean blood bank, the National…

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Omicron Sub Variants Make Up 97.5% Of All New COVID-19 Cases In China

Michael Gwarisa

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) which was recently in China to investigate the surge in new COVID-19 cases, has reported that Omicron still accounts for majority of infections together with its sub-variants BA.5.2 AND BF.7. By Michael Gwarisa The TAG-VE meets regularly to review the latest scientific evidence on circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and advises WHO on whether a change in public health strategies is warranted. The TAG-VE met on 3 January 2023 to discuss the COVID-19 situation in mainland China. During the meeting,…

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Health equity, not a pipe dream: EQUINET

Healthtimes

The Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET) has called for collective agency and action that embeds equity values in the region to promote health, amid deeply-rooted multiple challenges that are widening the gaps between rich and poor. By Nyasha Chingono The four-day EQUINET conference in 2022 (with session videos available on the EQUINET site) was held under the theme ‘Catalysing change for equity and social justice in health’. During the conference delegates raised calls for collaborative efforts between states, professionals and communities to tackle…

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