Category: Health News

Private Health Sector Should Not Profiteer From Vaccines-CWGH

Michael Gwarisa

THE Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike says the ongoing private sector vaccination drive should not compromise availability of vaccine stocks in the public sector where majority of citizens are getting vaccinated. By Michael Gwarisa His plea follows reports that some public health institutions as well as local authority facilities were having challenges and struggling to administer the first dose while private players administering vaccines were fully stocked with both first and second doses. Speaking to HealthTimes, Mr Rusike said even though Zimbabwe should be…

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HPA Warns Errant Herbal Medicines Merchants

Michael Gwarisa

THE Health Professions Authority of Zimbabwe (HPA) has told companies and individuals dealing in herbal medicines to comply with the law or face closure. By Michael Gwarisa This comes at the back of uncontrolled mushrooming of herbal dealers who are diagnosing patients, prescribing and dispensing herbal treatments at very high prices as well as offering body scans through methods that have not been approved by the country’s regulatory authorities such as the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), the Natural Therapists Association (NTA), the Radiation Protection Authority (RAPAZ) as well…

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ZiCHIRe’s “SHIFTING YOUR MINDSET” Campaign Exposes Linkages Between Drug Abuse And GBV

Michael Gwarisa

THERE has been an increase in Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in areas where substance abuse is rampant especially during the COVID-19 lockdown period, the Zimbabwe Community Health Initiative Research (ZiCHIRe) has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual meeting to mark the 2019 World Population Day, ZiCHIRe Programmes Manager, Mr Walter Chikanya said they had launched a campaign dubbed “Shifting Your Mindset” as a means of raising awareness around drug abuse and mental health in communities such as Mbare, Hopley and Mabvuku. As an organization, what we have…

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United Nations Condemns Death of Memory Machaya, 14-year-old Adolescent Girl Who Died During Childbirth

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations in Zimbabwe notes with deep concern and condemns strongly the surrounding circumstances leading to the untimely death of 14-year-old Memory Machaya from Marange, who died while giving birth at an apostolic sect shrine. HealthTimes Reporter Sadly, disturbing reports of the sexual violation of under-aged girls, including early forced child marriages continue to surface and indeed this is another sad case. A situation where one out of three girls in Zimbabwe will be married before the age of 18 years is also not acceptable. The current trend of…

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Zim Has The Best Breastfeeding Trend: Experts

Healthtimes

EXPERTS have commended the country’s breastfeeding trend which is currently amongst the highest in the region  and encouraged mothers to continue breastfeeding even after they would have tested positive for COVID-19. By Patricia Mashiri Speaking to HealthTimes, Mr Dexter Chagwena, a Nutritionist Consultant in the Ministry of Health and Child Care said the breastfeeding trend in Zimbabwe has been good even though there is need to improve on exclusive breastfeeding. Breastfeeding trend in Zimbabwe has been fairly good. We are a breastfeeding country where about between 96-98% of our children…

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SAYWHAT Raises Alarm Over Spike In GBV Cases In Semester Marriages

Michael Gwarisa

THE Students and Youth Working on Reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT) has raised concern over the prevalence of semester marriages which the organisation says are behind the rise in Gender Based Violence (GBV) and other Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) challenges amongst students. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) organised World Population Day commemorations, SAYWHAT project coordinator Esinathy Sibanda said COVID-19 induced lockdown had also resulted in surge in GBV cases for semester marriages settings. Semester marriages are one of the things that students in tertiary…

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Delta Variant Now Accounts For 98% COVID-19 Infections In Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

INFORMATION minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa genomic sequencing for COVID-19 has confirmed that Delta variant was responsible for majority of infections in the country. Health Reporter Speaking during a Post Cabinet Media briefing, Senator Mutsvangwa said a comprehensive genomic sequencing report would soon be made public. A genomic sequencing for COVID-19 samples collected in Harare revealed that 98% of the samples were of the Delta variant. The citizenry is informed that the national genomic sequencing survey is in progress and the results will be announced to the public,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.…

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Young People With HIV Lament COVID Impact On Healthcare Workers

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE Young Positives (ZY+), a youth led network that advocates for the needs of Young People Living With HIV (A & YPLHIV) has bemoaned the pressure COVID-19 has exerted on health systems which has resulted in healthcare workers being overwhelmed and turning a blind eye to the Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) needs of YPLHIV. By Patricia Mashiri Speaking during a media engagement on bodily autonomy funded by AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA), Chido Katsiga, the Assistant Communications and Advocacy Officer ZY+ said the COVID-19 pandemic has…

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PSMAS Membership Embrace Online Payments

Healthtimes

IN a bid to offer extra convenience for its members, PSMAS introduced an online payment system, which allows for members to make their subscription payments via the Society’s website or PSMAS 24/7 Mobile Application. Own Correspondent The website was recently revamped while the PSMAS 24/7 is a new baby on the block, both of which were introduced to make contact with the Society by different stakeholders easy and efficient. This is also in line with Covid-19 measures promoting remote working and limited physical contact. The coming in of a payment…

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