Category: Health News

National Vaccination Drive Could Worsen Already Depressed Blood Stocks

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE’s blood bank which is currently running at less than a day’s supply of blood could experience a further decline in blood stocks during the forthcoming mass COVID-19 vaccination drive as donors who receive jabs are recommended to wait for at least 28 days before donating blood after receiving their shot. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Food and Drug and Drug Administration (FDA), individuals who get jabs from vaccines such as the AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and the  Sinopharm which are replication defective virus vaccines must wait two weeks…

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Tuberculosis testing gap among people living with HIV is narrowing

Healthtimes

The risk of developing tuberculosis among the 38 million people living with HIV in 2019 was 18 times higher than in the rest of the world’s population. Tuberculosis remains the single largest cause of premature death among people living with HIV. Scale-up of antiretroviral therapy and improvements in the integrated delivery of HIV and tuberculosis services have reduced tuberculosis-related deaths among people living with HIV by 69% globally, from 678 000 in 2000 to 208 000 in 2019. Among the 131 countries that reported data to UNAIDS and the World Health…

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CURE International to launch Zimbabwe’s first children’s orthopedic hospital

Healthtimes

CURE International (CURE), a global provider of surgical treatment for children with treatable disabilities, announced plans to open CURE Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe, a first-in-the-nation facility providing life-transforming medical care to thousands of vulnerable children. By Cure International Reconstruction of the $5 million hospital was recently completed by the Zimbabwe Orthopedic Trust (ZOT) in partnership with the Zimbabwean government. The hospital plans to open in the first quarter of 2021, and the new facility will be the eighth hospital in the CURE network, the seventh in Africa. Medical care at…

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#JUSTIN: Blood Stocks Critically Low, NBSZ Appeals For Blood Donations

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) is appealing for blood eligible blood donors to come forward and donate blood amidst indications that the blood bank is running low on blood stocks. By Michael Gwarisa The blood bank is currently running on a hand to mouth basis and is sitting on less than a day’s supply, whilst a healthy bank should have at least five days supply. In a statement, the NBSZ Communications Officer, Mr Ephraim Mubayi said the blood stocks levels have been affected by the prevailing COVID-19 induced…

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Misinformation Could Hinder Vaccine Acceptance In Zim Communities-Experts

Michael Gwarisa

Even some health experts are still unsure of the vaccine HEALTH experts have warned that rolling out the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program without adequately engaging communities would hinder uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. By Michael Gwarisa The call comes in the wake of numerous conspiracy theories making rounds in communities which if not dispelled, would derail the nationwide vaccination process. At the forefront of covid-19 vaccine conspiracy theories in Zimbabwe are renowned religious leaders, some politicians and opinion leaders in communities. Public Health Expert and Epidemiologist, Dr Grant Murewanhema said as…

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#JUSTIN: Zim Vaccine Rollout Starts Thursday As South African COVID-19 Variant Dominates Local Infections

Healthtimes

CABINET has announced that rollout of the 200 000 doses of the Sinopharm Vaccine which arrived yesterday from China will commence on Thursday, 18 February, 2021. HealthTimes Reporter The announcement also come at the back of revelations that there is now a 61% dominance of the new South African variant of the COVID-19 virus which spreads faster and has a higher fatality rate. This was revealed following   results of the genomic sequencing recently conducted indicate that the type of COVID-19 virus that the nation had in 2020 has receded.…

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Involve Civil Society In COVID-19 Vaccine Processes To Get Community Buy in Says CWGH

Michael Gwarisa

THE Community Working Group of Health (CWGH) Executive Director Mr Itai Rusika has called on the Zimbabwean government to engage Civil Society Organizations throughout the the vaccine rollout process since they already have structures and active involvement at grassroots level. By Michael Gwarisa His call also comes hot on the heels of an announcement by deputy minister of health and child care Dr John Mangwiro where he said the vaccine would be distributed immediately  after after arrival to all the country’s 10 provinces. This has however not gone down well…

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First Batch Of Sinopharm Vaccine To Be distributed In Zim Immediately After Arrival Next Week

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE will on Monday, February 15, 2021 receive a donation of the Sinopharm Vaccine from the Republic of China which is set to be distributed immediately after arrival according to a top government official. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has purchased 600 000 on top of the 200 000 Sinopharm vaccine doses which were donated by the Government of China. The Sinopharm vaccine has efficacy rates ranging from 76 to 86% and has already been used by other countries in controlling COVID-19. Speaking during a televised briefing on the COVID-19 Vaccine…

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Chii Chinombonzi Vaccine Kana Kuti Nhomba Ye COVID-19?

Michael Gwarisa

NYIKA dzakawanda pasi rose kusanganisira nyika yedu ye Zimbabwe dzirikugadzirira kutambira mushonga nemajekiseni achange achishandiswa kubaya vanhu kuti vadzivirirwe kubva kuchirwere che COVID-19 chinokonzerwa nehutachiwana hwe Coronavirus. By Michael Gwarisa Nyika ye Zimbabwe mumazuva mashoma arikutevera ichange ichigamuchira Vaccine re COVID-19 kubva kunyika ye China nedzimwe nyika dzakavimbisa kuti dzichazenge dzichibatsira Zimbabwe mukurwisana ne denda iri. Amwe ema Vaccine atinofanira kutarisira kuwana anoti iwo SINOPHARM reku China, COVAX ratichawana kuburukidza nerubatsiro rwe nyika ye United Kingdom (UK) ichibatsiran ne bazi re World Health Organisation (WHO) nemamwewo akadaro. Mutungamiri we nyika…

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