Category: Health News

Zimbabwe Ranks Second Globally for HIV-Related Stigma, UNAIDS Report Finds

Michael Gwarisa

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe has the second highest proportion of people who experienced HIV-related stigma while seeking HIV or other health services in the past year, according to the latest UNAIDS report. Drawing from the People Living with HIV Stigma Index 2.0 (2020–2024), the UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2025 shows that Iran tops the list with 36 percent of people living with HIV (PLHIV) reporting stigma. Zimbabwe follows with 30 percent. Sierra Leone ranks third, with 27 percent of PLHIV facing stigma, followed by Vietnam with 25 percent. In New…

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WHO Recommends Twice-Yearly Injectable Lenacapavir as Game-Changer in HIV Prevention

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a landmark move that could transform the global fight against HIV, the World Health Organization (WHO) today issued new guidelines endorsing the use of injectable lenacapavir (LEN) administered twice a year as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option. The announcement was made at the 13th International AIDS Society Conference (IAS 2025) on HIV Science, currently underway in Kigali, Rwanda. LEN is the first long-acting injectable PrEP designed to protect people at risk of HIV with just two doses annually, offering a highly effective alternative to daily…

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NAC Fears HIV Setbacks Despite Global Praise

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Zimbabwe has earned international praise for its HIV response, with the latest UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2025 placing the country among a select group on track to meet the ambitious 2030 target of ending AIDS as a public health threat. However, health authorities at home have issued a stark warning: the next five years could undo years of progress if urgent action is not taken to counter recent funding setbacks. According to UNAIDS, Zimbabwe is one of only seven countries in Eastern and Southern Africa to have…

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NUST Crowned 2025 SAYWHAT University Quiz Champions

Michael Gwarisa

By Kuda Pembere recently in Nyazura The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) was crowned the winner of this year’s SAYWHAT University Quiz Competition last Friday. Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) came in second, while Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (MUAST) secured third place. This year’s edition of the competition, dubbed the Rujeko Edition, featured 16 universities, up from 12 in the previous year. Speaking to journalists after the competition, NUST representatives Daniella Manzini and Gideon Mhlanga expressed their excitement at finally clinching the title, having finished in…

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Zimbabwe Faces Fertility Decline as Global Childbearing Crisis Deepens

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is experiencing a demographic shift in terms of fertility rate, in line with global trends, as more people struggle to achieve their reproductive goals. According to the 2024 State of the World Population (SWP) report by UNFPA, the world is undergoing a fertility crisis where individuals are increasingly unable to have the number of children they want, when they want, or with whom they want. Back home, the country’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has seen a steady decline from 4.3 children per woman in 1994 to…

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Civil War Worsens Cholera Crisis in Sudan, Warns Africa CDC

Michael Gwarisa
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By Michael Gwarisa Efforts to curb cholera outbreaks across Africa are facing severe challenges, with Sudan’s ongoing civil war exacerbating an already dire situation. According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the continent remains the epicenter of the global cholera burden, with Sudan standing out due to the devastating impact of conflict on public health infrastructure. As of July 10, 2025, Africa has recorded 182,506 cholera cases and 3,697 deaths across 21 member states, according to official data released during Africa CDC’s weekly media briefing.…

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UAE Donates Medical Supplies Worth US$700,000 to Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe on Thursday received a consignment of medical supplies worth US$700,000 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to support the strengthening of the country’s public health sector. The donation consists of 34 tons of essential supplies, including ventilators and other medical sundries. Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the NatPharm warehouse in Harare, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Hon. Sleiman Kwidini commended the solidarity shown by the UAE government. “Under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE continues…

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Egyptian Students Launch Africa’s First “Health Diplomacy” Program for Future Doctors

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  Cairo has become the stage for a groundbreaking initiative with the launch of the “Health Diplomacy for Medical Students” program, the first of its kind in Egypt and across the African continent. Spearheaded by the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations – Egypt (IFMSA-Egypt) and its branch at MTI University, the program is supported by the Scientific Association of Medical Students at the Modern University for Technology and Information (MTI) and enjoys media sponsorship from the AfroMedia Initiative for Journalism and Media. Held at the Faculty of…

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From Brake Fluid Manufacturer to Pharmaceutical Powerhouse: Varichem’s 40-Year Journey In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa When you walk into a pharmacy or a hospital in Zimbabwe, chances are high that the medicine you’re prescribed or dispensed is manufactured by Varichem. From its humble beginnings as a manufacturer of automobile lubricants and brake fluids, Varichem Pharmaceuticals has grown to become a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer with a footprint that spans multiple African countries. This year, Varichem marks a remarkable 40 years in the pharmaceutical manufacturing business. It is a journey shaped by visionary leadership, resilience in the face of economic and regulatory adversity, and…

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Gilead’s Secrecy Over HIV Prevention Shot Sparks Global Outrage

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  Gilead Sciences has come under fire after announcing a secretive deal to supply its long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir (LEN-LA), to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The agreement—shrouded in indefinite price secrecy—has been widely condemned by civil society organisations, health advocates, and global health experts who warn it undermines transparency, accountability, and equitable access. The Global Fund, financed by public money, has invited nine African countries—South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria—to participate in the agreement. However, the…

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