Category: Health News

USAID and WFP Provide Relief to over 100,000 Urban Dwellers During COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today commenced cash disbursements for the Urban Social Assistance programme thanks to funding from the United States through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID’s support will provide relief for vulnerable families in eight urban areas across Zimbabwe struggling to meet their daily food needs due to the effects of COVID-19. USAID and WFP are meeting the needs of people living in Gokwe, Redcliff, Kwekwe, Ruwa, Chinhoyi, Buhera, Chipinge, and Chegutu. The financial assistance from USAID allows WFP to provide support…

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UNFPA To Continue Offering Community Based Solutions To Reduce GBV In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has vowed to continue offering community-based mechanisms to mitigate the risk of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa In 2019, UNFPA Zimbabwe focused on expanding safe spaces, distribution of dignity kits and capacity development of GBV sector on prevention and mitigation of GBV in emergency situations. The organization also rolled out One Stop Centres which have also continued to provide critical comprehensive support and services to GBV survivors. According to the UNFPA 2019 Annual Report, they have expanded services to vulnerable…

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Zimbabwe Hit By Shortage Of Drug Sensitive TB Tablets

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE is currently experiencing a shortage in Rifabutin 150 mg tablets used in the treatment of drug sensitive Tuberculosis (DS-TB) among TB/HIV co-infected patients on second line treatment antiretroviral therapy (ART). By Michael Gwarisa In a communique written to all provincial hospitals, Permanent Secretary in the ministry of health and child care (MoHCC), Dr Jasper Chimedza said based on the current stock levels, the country would be stocked out by end of November 2020. The country is currently faced with shortages of Rifubutin 150mg tablets. The shortages are associated with…

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Impala Car Rental Comes Through For Saujeni, Young Man Living With Disability

Michael Gwarisa

IMPALA Car Rental through its Alfred Dondo Foundation continue to give back to the community following a donation of a wheel chair and groceries to 20 Year old Mike Saujeni who got paralyzed at a tender age. HealthTimes Reporter Saujeni, an aspiring musician is born in a family of four with all other siblings suffering from a different disabilities. In the absence of a wheel chair, the young man suffered as he sued to crawl to get into the toilet and do some things at home. His mother Anne Mangadze…

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Zim Still Stuck With Archaic Termination Of Pregnancy Law

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE  this week joined the rest of the world in commemorating the Safe Abortions day albeit the country is still operating under a 43-year-old Termination of Pregnancy ACT which prevents women from accessing safe abortion at health institutions even though evidence suggests that majority of the country’s maternal deaths are as a result of haemorrhaging due to unsafe abortions, a legal expert has said. By Michael Gwarisa The country’s existing Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP ACT V (No. 29  of 1977) was adopted in 1977 and only permits women to…

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ZICHIRE’s Safe Spaces Program Rescues UMP & Mudzi Women Who Experienced GBV During Lockdown

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research (ZICHIRE) is implementing a program dubbed the “Safe Spaces” program in Mudzi and Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe (UMP) with the aim of empowering women who experienced Gender Based Violence (GBV) during the COVID-19 induced lockdown. By Michael Gwarisa The humanitarian project is also aimed at capacitating and building resilient communities so as to prevent abuse at grassroots level. In an interview with HealthTimes, ZICHIRE Programs Manager, Mr Walter Chikanya said empowering women economically was one sure way of reducing GBV. The program that we…

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Disabled & HIV Positive Chiredzi 24-Year-Old Retired Sex Worker Speaks Out

Michael Gwarisa

RODHA (24) (real name protected) is a young girl living with a disability of the limbs. She has Locomotor Disability, a form of disability which affects the limbs and hinders one’s movement from point A to B. She has been walking on Clutches since she was a little girl.  In 2013, Rodha fled her rural home in Chivi where she lived with her uncle and his wife. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Chiredzi Despite her condition, she says her uncle would verbally and physically abuse her, accusing her of philandering…

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Lions Clubs donate US$10 000 PPEs to Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

Lions Clubs of District 412 on Wednesday donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to frontline staff at Wilkins Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. HealthTimes Reporter The donation of PPEs, which was also extended to other hospitals in Midlands and Bulawayo, is part of Lions Clubs International US$10 000 kit to help Zimbabwe copy with the Covid-19 pandemic. John Mwinjilo, the Lions Multiple District 412A Chairman of Public Relations, said Lions Clubs International found it fit to donate PPEs to frontline staff in Zimbabwe as a way of protecting them against…

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Masvingo, Chiredzi Sees Spike in STI Infections In Adolescent Girls During COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

AS government continues to ease COVID-19 restrictions, health institutions in Masvingo urban and Chiredzi district have started witnessing a surge in Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) amongst young girls aged between 13 and 24, HealthTimes can reveal. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Masvingo The increase in new STI infections according to the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), has been driven largely by travel and tight lockdown restrictions which characterized the initial stages of the lockdown period, a period where access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services was disrupted. In…

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In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic UNFPA and partners call for greater efforts to ensure access to contraceptives for women and girls

Michael Gwarisa

IN the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic and on World Contraception Day, the UN’s reproductive health and rights agency – the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and partners have called for greater efforts to ensure access to contraceptives for women and girls of reproductive age. This is towards “Zero unmet Need for Contraception” even during emergency and humanitarian situations. HealthTimes Reporter World Contraceptive Day is commemorated each year on 26 September. Launched in 2007, the day was set aside to help raise awareness on contraception to enable young people…

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