Category: Health News

#BREAKING: Zimbabwe to Roll Out Revolutionary Contraceptive Ring for Women

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has launched the Contraceptive Acceptability Research (CARE), a pioneering study that will assess the acceptability, feasibility, and uptake of the Annovera contraceptive ring among women and adolescent girls in the country. The study, introduced this week, marks a significant step towards enhancing access to a wider range of contraceptive options, aligning with both national and global goals to empower women and girls to take greater control of their sexual and reproductive health. The Annovera ring is a user-controlled, long-acting, and reversible contraceptive method. Designed for use…

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Treasury Generates US$25 Million from Sugar Tax Collections

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe’s Treasury raised ZiG685.8 million (about US$25.4 million) from the sugar tax between January and May 2025, with the funds earmarked for the procurement of cancer equipment and medication. This was revealed by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube during the Mid-Term Budget Review presentation on Thursday. Prof Ncube introduced the sugar tax in 2024, and by November of that year, over US$30 million had been collected, according to his Permanent Secretary, George Guvamatanga. “Government introduced a levy on sugar content in beverages…

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Cimas Health Group Backs Life-Saving Paediatric Heart Surgeries

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  As Zimbabwe pushes for greater private sector involvement in public healthcare revitalisation, leading healthcare provider Cimas Health Group has once again stepped up to support a critical national health intervention — the recently concluded Egypt–Zimbabwe Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Mission, also known as Open Heart Camp 2. Held at Parirenyatwa Hospital, the week-long surgical camp was led by a team of Egyptian cardiac specialists working in collaboration with Zimbabwean medical professionals. The initiative successfully delivered life-saving open-heart surgeries to 10 children, aged between six months and ten years,…

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World Breastfeeding Week: Urgent Call as Just 1 in 5 Zimbabwean Infants Receive Exclusive Breastfeeding

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa As the world observes World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to 7, Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ) is calling for urgent action to reverse a sharp decline in exclusive breastfeeding rates and address the deeply rooted cultural, economic, and systemic challenges threatening infant health across the country. According to Chisichawo Mutendadzamera, Nutrition Manager at NAZ, World Breastfeeding Week presents a strategic opportunity to galvanize action. Breast milk is the ultimate natural vaccine. It provides the perfect balance of nutrients, is easy to digest, and protects against common childhood…

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Zimbabwe’s 2025 Mid-Term Budget Falls Short of Abuja Health Target Despite Modest Gains

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review has once again underscored the country’s persistent failure to meet the Abuja Declaration target of allocating at least 15 percent of the national budget to health, despite a modest improvement in the sector’s share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) following a rebasing exercise. According to the review presented by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, the Ministry of Health and Child Care was allocated ZiG27.8 billion for the year, translating to approximately US$1.039 billion using the official exchange rate of US$1 to ZiG26.7654. While…

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Red Cross Boosts Safe Water Access for Kuwadzana and Dzivarasekwa Communities

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Two Harare institutions long plagued by unreliable water access, Rujeko Polyclinic and Kuwadzana 5 Primary School received a critical boost with the installation of solar-powered water schemes expected to significantly reduce service disruptions and the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. With water storage capacities of 20,000 litres each, the systems were officially handed over on Tuesday by the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) to the Dzivaresekwa and Kuwadzana communities. The systems were installed at Rujeko Polyclinic and Kuwadzana 5 Primary School, both of…

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Zimbabwe Faces Malaria Crisis as Suspected Cases Top 112,000

Healthtimes

By Rukudzo Gota As Zimbabwe grapples with a staggering rise in malaria cases, health experts are sounding the alarm over nearly 112,000 suspected infections in the first half of 2025, spotlighting the country’s looming public health crisis and the challenges posed by regional outbreaks across southern Africa.  The alarming statistics, released by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), highlight a troubling increase from the previous year and raise significant concerns about the efficacy of current mitigation efforts. The latest data reveals that from the beginning of…

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Higher Incomes and Diabetes Linked to Increased Colon Cancer Risk in Zimbabwe

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere People living in towns with an income of over US$500, as well as those with diabetes, are more prone to developing colon cancer compared to those who eat traditional diets. This was revealed by gastroenterologist Dr. Leolin Katsidzira, who presented findings from a 2019 study during a Men’s Health Awareness Day hosted by the Islamic Medical Association of Zimbabwe (IMAZ) in Harare. Dr. Katsidzira and his team discovered that individuals earning more than US$500 were consuming highly processed foods, which are linked to increased risk. According to…

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Zim Prepares for 2025 MICS with Nationwide Household Listing

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere A household listing exercise for the 2025 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) is currently underway, with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) stating that this phase is a critical step in preparing for data collection. The MICS survey plays a vital role in gathering national data on a wide range of socio-economic indicators concerning children, women, and men. The last survey was done in 2019. According to ZIMSTAT, the listing exercise, which began on 22 July, will conclude on 8 August 2025. “The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency…

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Two Medical Personnel Up for Perfusionist Training in Tanzania

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere At a time when Zimbabwe’s public health sector has only one perfusionist supporting cardiothoracic surgeries, two medical personnel from Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals are set to undergo training at Muhimbili University Hospital in Tanzania. This move is expected to ease the workload of the country’s lone perfusionist and gradually build up the number of trained personnel needed for a functional and sustainable heart surgery program. Perfusionists play a crucial role during heart surgeries by operating the heart-lung machine, which temporarily takes over the function of the heart…

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