Health News |

New COVID-19 Variants Fuelling Africa’s Second Wave

January 28, 2021 Healthtimes

COVID-19 cases and deaths are surging in Africa as new, more contagious variants of the virus spread to additional countries. Staff Reporter Over 175 000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 6200 deaths were reported in Africa in the last week while infections rose by 50% on the continent between 29 December 2020 and 25 January 2021 when compared with the previous four weeks. In the past week, there has been a small dip in cases in South Africa, but 22 countries continue to see their case numbers surge. Deaths…

Hepatitis C Diagnostics and Treatment Boost For Low & Middle-Income Countries

January 28, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has highlighted progress in accelerating access to hepatitis C diagnostics and treatment in low- and middle-income countries at the back of reduced cost for treatment and improved diagnostics systems. By Staff Reporter Many low- and middle-income countries have reduced suffering from hepatitis C owing to increased access to testing and treatment. According to WHO, some achieved a 20-fold increase in the number of people treated with safe and effective direct-acting retroviral drugs between 2015 and 2018, according to the Global progress report on accelerating access…

WHO recommends the dapivirine vaginal ring as a new choice for HIV prevention for women at substantial risk of HIV infection

January 27, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

WHO today recommended that the dapivirine vaginal ring (DPV-VR) may be offered as an additional prevention choice for women at substantial risk[1] of HIV infection as part of combination prevention approaches. The DPV-VR is a female-initiated option to reduce the risk of HIV infection. To properly use the ring, it must be worn inside the vagina for a period of 28 days, after which it should be replaced by a new ring. The ring is made of silicone and is easy to bend and insert. The ring works by releasing…

#JUTSIN: UK Announces Support To Zimbabwe And Other Countries To Identify New COVID-19 Variants

January 26, 2021 Healthtimes

HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has announced the United Kingdom’s (UK) support with genomics expertise to help other countries identify new COVID-19 variants comes as researchers at the Quadram Institute outline their work supporting scientists in Zimbabwe. Today’s UK government announcement of the New Variant Assessment Platform will see other countries offered UK laboratory capacity and advice to analyse new strains of coronavirus. In common with many other countries facing the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Zimbabwe recorded its first recorded case of the SARS-CoV-2 in March 2020. Extensive public health…

COVID-19 Won’t Affect Vaginal Ring Rollout In Zimbabwe- Dr Mgodi

January 26, 2021January 26, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

THE prevailing COVID-19 pandemic will not affect rollout of the Dapivirine ring or Vaginal ring, an HIV prevention ring for women, HIV expert and histopathologist who was also the Dapirivirine ring study chairperson in Africa, Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi has said. By Michael Gwarisa Dr Mugodi’s comments come at the back of indications that COVID-19 could have disrupted access to healthcare services and rollout of certain programs across the globe over the past 12 months. In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Mgodi said the ring has already received its pre-qualification from…

Coronavirus Mutation Causing High False Negative Results In Zim-Lancet

January 26, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

NEW Coronavirus strains being reported worldwide could be the reason why most Laboratories in Zimbabwe have been recording high cases of false negative COVID-19 results of late, a top pathologist has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual press briefing, Lancet Laboratories Chief Executive Officer, Dr Charlse Muronda said the viruses have changed their genetic makeup , in the process making it difficult for other organisations which have not upgraded their testing equipment to pick the virus during testing procedures. One of the things that have happened with COVID-19…

#JUSTIN: Mangwana Apologises To Doctors Fo Labeling Them Assassins

January 25, 2021 Healthtimes

INFORMATION, publicity and broadcasting services permanent secretary, Nick Mangwana has issued to doctors whom he had labelled assassins masquerading as physicians. Staff Reporter I expressed my personal view on an issue a Dr had tweeted on. I had no intention to offend any doctor or call any of them names. Since it has caused such offence, I withdraw it & apologise for any offence caused. I just hope we can move and not be distracted from work at hand.

Zimbabwe COVID-19 Deaths Breach 1000 Mark

January 24, 2021 Healthtimes

20 March 2020 is when we confirmed the first case of SARS-CoV-2 in Zimbabwe, and a few days later we had lost a prominent young man (may his soul continue to rest in peace). The initial trajectory was slow, and by October we thought the local outbreak was under control. By Dr Grant Murewanhema Sadly our confirmed cases started to rise again, with a significant rise in the first 2 weeks of January, possibly attributable to an influx of returnees from abroad and unrestricted human movements during the festive period.…

#JUSTIN: Nick Mangwana’s “Doctors Killing Politicians” Remarks Anger Zim Doctors

January 24, 2021January 24, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

INFORMATION Publicity and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary Nick Mangwana, has stirred a hornet’s nest following his remarks that deviant doctors could be behind the death of Zimbabwe’s politicians. By Michael Gwarisa Early in the morning, Mangwana took to his micro-blogging site to vent over the continued demise of top politicians and blamed some doctors for inducing the deaths while hiding behind medical qualifications. The allegations did not go down well with doctors who believe Mangwana’s remarks were an attack and victimisation of the medical profession. In an interview with HealthTimes,…

471 Health Service COVID-19 Insurance Claims Received To Date- HSB

January 22, 2021 Healthtimes

THE Health Service Board (HSB) says it has received and processed a total 471 claims for cover from members of the Health Service in line with government’s pledge to cushion health care wokers against COVID-19 induced risks. By Staff Reporter In a statement, HSB Executive Chairman, Dr Paulinos Sikosana said the COVID-19 Employer’s Liability Insurance was approved in July 2020 to mitigate the social and economic impact of the disease to the affected and their families. The Insurance scheme is designed to give immediate cover to the affected members in…