Category: Health News

Damafalls Residents Go For Three Weeks Without Refuse Collection

Michael Gwarisa

RESIDENTS of Damafalls, Chipukutu, some parts of Zimre and Ruwa are up in arms against the Ruwa Local board for failing to honor their refuse collection schedule which has resulted in them going for three weeks with piles of garbage at their gates and homes. By Michael Gwarisa When this publication visited some households in Damafalls close to Wenera Shopping centre ad some in Phase 2, an unpleasant odor from garbage containers could be sensed from a distance. In some instances, garbage can be seen scattered all over as dogs…

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Risk Of TB Infection 18 Times Higher In Zimbabwe’s Artisanal Miners

Michael Gwarisa

PROLONGED exposure to silica dust and a lack of protective gear, places Artisanal Small Scale Miners at greater risk of Tuberculosis (TB) infection compared to other population groups. By Michael Gwarisa recently inn Kwekwe Zimbabwe is one of the three countries in Southern Africa that has the highest number of artisanal small scale miners with Tanzania leading the pack, followed by Mozambique and then Zimbabwe on third place out of the 15 SADC countries. Data gathered from a Care and TB program that is being conducted by the Baines Occupational…

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PANGAEA ZIMBABWE AIDS TRUST appoints COVID-19 Prevention Champions To Curb Vaccine Hesitancy

Michael Gwarisa

PANGAEA Zimbabwe AIDS Trust (PZAT), has appointed a 15 member team drawn from various sectors to be COVID-19 Prevention champions in their different communities in a bid to promote vaccine literacy and advocate for the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in communities. By Michael Gwarisa The move comes in the midst of findings from a recent COVID-19 Rapid Assessment that was conducted by PZAT in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Child Care, which indicated that vaccine hesitancy and lack of trust in vaccines being administered in Zimbabwe were the major…

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#BREAKING: Government Disburses ZWL 3,790,919,745.02 To PSMAS

Michael Gwarisa

THE Government of Zimbabwe says it has been religiously honoring its pledge to financially support the beleaguered medical aid society, PSMAS contrary to what some labor unions are saying. By Staff Reporter In a statement, Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe, secretary, Service Commissions Public Service Commission (PSC) Secretary said disbursements made by Government to PSMAS, totalling ZWL 3,790,919,745.02 between January to May 2022, while June disbursement shall be made this coming week. The Commission wishes to update its stakeholders and workers on prudent steps that Government has taken to support PSMAS in…

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#BREAKING: CIMAS Medical Aid Now Covers Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation

Michael Gwarisa

AT a time Zimbabwe is grappling with an increased burden of drug and substance abuse, one of the country’s leading Medical Aid firms, CIMAS has added alcohol and drug rehabilitation to the list of conditions the medical aid covers. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has over the past few years recorded an increases in cases of alcohol and substance abuse and the situation has worsened during the COVID-19 era. The move by CIMAS will likely ease the burden through assisting members during their stay i rehab facilities. Speaking on the development,…

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PSMAS Defy Government Order To Cancel AGM

Michael Gwarisa

Police disrupt meeting chases everyone out Unions to petition gvt on Monday over PSMAS Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) yesterday (June 30, 22) defied the Regulator of Medical Aid Societies (RMAS), which had directed the company to stop its Annual General Meeting pending finalisation of a forensic audit. By Michael Gwarisa The AGM was scheduled to take place yesterday with a number of agenda items that included extension of the forensic audit to other PSMAS entities and regularisation of a Trust, which is supposed to superintend over Premier Service…

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Information Gaps Hindering Uptake Of Smoke Free Tobacco Alternatives Among Adult Smokers

Michael Gwarisa

THE 7th Edition of the Tobacco Atlas, identified devastating health and economic costs of global tobacco use with indications that In 2019 alone, tobacco use caused more than 8.67 million deaths worldwide (6.53 million men, 2.14 million women) and approximately US $2 trillion in economic damage. Most deaths were attributable to smoking, but 1.3 million died from second hand smoke exposure. By Michael Gwarisa Another worrying trend the tobacco atlas picked was the growing use and smoking of tobacco by the youths. Youth tobacco use (girls and/or boys) increased in…

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Stakeholders Push For National TB In The Workplace Policy

Michael Gwarisa

THE Stop TB Partnership Zimbabwe, Parliament, the private sector and other key stakeholders have amplified calls to have a national Workplace TB policy which will guide the implementation of TB and wellness programs in the workplace. By Michael Gwarisa in Kwekwe Even though most companies in the private sector have wellness policies in place, TB stakeholders believe a standalone TB policy framework would ensure the diseases is prioritized and given the attention it deserves. Speaking during a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Engagement Meeting that was hosted by the Stop TB…

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South Africa In Breakthrough HIV Treatment For Children

Michael Gwarisa

IN a move that is set improve HIV treatment outcomes in children, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has approved a new HIV treatment regimen for children that comes in granules that can be sprinkled or dissolved in milk or water. By Staff Reporter The newly registered “sweet-tasting” combination antiretroviral treatment for infants and young children with HIV does not require refrigeration and is likely to address the pill fatigue that is usually associated with the daily intake of Antiretroviral tablets. These new treatment regimens for infants and children…

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Oral Health For Mental Health Patients Manual launched

Healthtimes

Mental and Oral Health professionals have launched an Oral Health for Mental Health Patients Manual as a response to health practitioners request to help improve the oral care of mental health patients in the country. By Patricia Mashiri The manual aims to increase oral and mental health awareness whilst equipping health professionals in the role they play in management of oral health of patients living with mental health conditions . The project is also meant to uphold mental and oral health professionals, abolish oral and mental inequalities and pursuit of…

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