Health News |

NatPharm loses Over US$100,000 to hackers

April 14, 2022April 14, 2022 Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S pharmaceutical warehouse and distributor of essential medicines, the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm), was left counting its losses after hackers siphoned an amount to the tune of US$104,706 that was meant for a supplier. By Kudakwashe Pembere Natpharms’s woes unfolded when a clerk at the organisation used his personal email address to communicate corporate transactions with a supplier, exposing the system to cyber terrorists. In the latest Report of the Auditor-General for the Financial Year Ending December 31, 2020 on State Enterprises and Parastatals, the AG, Ms Mildred Chiri said…

Bridge Vaccine Inequity To Boost Population Immunity Against COVID-19 Says Dr Tedros

April 13, 2022 Healthtimes

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says making vaccines available to a wider population increases chances of defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. HealthTimes Reporter Addressing Media Briefing, Dr Tedros said last week, the lowest number of COVID-19 deaths was recorded since the early days of the pandemic. However, emerging variants continue to threaten efforts to eradicate the virus. Some countries are still witnessing serious spikes in cases, which is putting pressure on hospitals. And our ability to monitor trends is compromised as testing has significantly reduced. This…

Zimbabwe’s Aged Persons on ARVs at Greater Risk of NCDs

April 13, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

HIV and AIDS is slowly becoming an ageing issue in Zimbabwe with indications that majority of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) are those above the age of 50 and are at greater risk of developing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). By Michael Gwarisa Even though the country has been recording a number of new infections amongst young girls and women, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has raised concern over the concentration of PLHIV and ART clients in the 50 and above age range and…

Zimbabwe Launches Informal Sector HIV/AIDS Strategy

April 12, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

AS Zimbabwe inches closer towards controlling the AIDS epidemic, the National AIDS Council (NAC) in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), have launched the Zimbabwe Informal Economy HIV and AIDS Strategy (2022-2025). By Michael Gwarisa The strategy seeks amongst other things to empower and provide comprehensive HIV services to all levels of workers and other persons in the informal sector with the aim of creating an environment that will lead to a reduction in new HIV infections in working environments. Standing in for Minister Sithembiso Nyoni, Mr Tabani Shoko…

Increasing momentum to address Antimicrobial Resistance in Zimbabwe: Commitment of the government and the UN Country Team

April 12, 2022April 12, 2022 Healthtimes

Harare, Zimbabwe – The first global assessment of the burden of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) revealed that nearly 5 million deaths in 2019[1] were associated with drug-resistant infections. A major driver of AMR is the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in the human and animal health sectors.[2] Zimbabwe, as other countries of the world, has not escaped the negative impact that multidrug-resistant organisms have on health and well-being, food security, environment and economic growth.[3] In addition, the proliferation of counterfeit and unregistered medicines on the informal market coupled with irrational prescribing in…

Scientists Believe They Have Found The Cure For Premature Ejaculation and It Includes ZAPPING The Penis With Electrical Currency

April 11, 2022 Healthtimes

Zapping the penis could combat premature ejaculation, doctors claim.One man who underwent the therapy was able to last roughly seven times longer in bed.He underwent the treatment, which involved getting electrodes stuck onto his penis for 30 minutes at a time, three times a week. Doctors in Lebanon, who treated the unidentified man, say he ejaculated within 40 seconds before seeking help. But six months after completing the treatment, he was able to pleasure his girlfriend for almost five minutes before climaxing. The Beirut-based medics called for studies to determine…

Trust Issues Blamed For Low Vaccine Uptake in Zim-Study

April 11, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

SKEPTICISM around the Chinese manufactured vaccines, the Sinopharm and Sinovac has to a greater extent hampered the uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa This is according to data that was gathered during a COVID-19 Rapid Assessment that was conducted by Pangea Zimbabwe AIDS Trust between September and October 2021. Zimbabwe is currently ranked among the highest in Africa in terms of vaccinating its citizens. However, a number of factors have hindered the country’s progress towards attaining herd immunity where an ambitious target of vaccinating 10 million citizens…

357 Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators Convicted

April 11, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

IN a move that is set to boost confidence in Zimbabwe’s criminal justice system, at least 55 percent of Sexual offenders and perpetrators of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Manicaland province and some parts of Masvingo have been convicted since the year 2019 to date. By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare The cases were facilitated and processed through the assistance of the Family AIDS Caring Trust Zimbabwe (FACT) legal division in the districts FACT is implementing the Children Tariro and DREAMS projects namely Makoni, Mutare, Chipinge, Buhera and Gutu. Speaking during…

Male Involvement Component Slows Down PrEP Uptake In Zimbabwe

April 10, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

POOR health seeking behavior by males, coupled with the patriarchal nature of society has slowed down the uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa PrEP is the use of Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs by HIV-uninfected persons to prevent the acquisition of HIV before exposure to HIV. Most oral PrEP pills contain a combination of two ARVs- tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricatabine. According to data that was shared by the Zimbabwe Association of Church related Hospitals (ZACH) during a virtual media briefing on PrEP, the uptake of PrEP…

Organisations sign MOU to fight GBV against women with disabilities

April 9, 2022 Healthtimes

THE Memorandum of Understanding supporting coalition building between Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and the Women’s Movement in addressing Intersectional Discrimination signed on Wednesday seeks to engage traditionalists and faith based organisations. By Kudakwashe Pembere Women Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCOZ) National Coordinator Ms Sally Dura told journalists during the signing ceremony that they will be collaborating with traditional leaders and faith based organisations in coming up with ways of tackling SGBV against women and girls with disabilities. Our MOU is anchored on building strong partnerships in line with Sustainable Development…