Health News |

Civil Society, NAC Meet Senators To Discuss Age Restrictions To SRHR Access

September 15, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

A consortium of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) together with the National AIDS Council (NAC yesterday met senators to deliberate on issues hindering young people from accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services. By Michael Gwarisa The consortium dubbed the Access Task-force consists of various civil society organizations which include Advocacy Core Team, Right Here Right Now (RHRN), The PITCH Consortium, SHR Africa Trust (SAT), Youth Advocate Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Young Positives, Youth Engage, My Age and other youth affiliated organizations that have come on board to sign the petition…

UZ Commences Production Of Swabs For Collecting COVID-19 Samples

September 14, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE university of Zimbabwe (UZ) in partnership with a local company have begun manufacturing swabs which will used in collecting COVID-19 samples as the country moves towards increasing testing levels. By Michael Gwarisa In media brief, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa said the swabs have been submitted to the Ministry of Health and Child Care and to Natpharm for quality assurance tests. Additionally, Government continues to make strides in ensuring that the country’s preparedness and response plans are upgraded. As part of the efforts to boost…

Zim A Level Girl Ventures Into Sex Work To Raise Tuition and University Funds

September 14, 2020September 14, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

FOR 18-year-old Mercy (not real name), life took a twist soon after completing her Ordinary Level studies in 2018 in Chivhu. Having bagged 10 ‘O’ level subjects including Mathematics, English, and science subjects, Mercy enrolled for Advanced level at the same school she did her ‘O’ levels. By Michael Gwarisa After government announced closure of schools in March following confirmation of COVID-19 in the country, Mercy moved to Harare to live with her unemployed sister with the aim of raising fees for her final term as well as enroll for…

WHO supports Ministry of Health Train Mass Drug Admin Implementers Against Schistosomiasis & Soil Transmitted Helminths in Mash Central

September 12, 2020September 12, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) in Zimbabwe is supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) to train Mass Drug Administration (MDAs) implementers in preparation for the 2020 Schistosomiasis (SCH) and Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH)MDAs campaign. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking to HealthTimes, WHO Communications Officer, Tatenda Chimbwanda said WHO was supporting Mount Darwin and Shamva get ready for these, the SCH/ STH Mass Drug Administration campaign in these two districts in Mash Central. “The province will conduct the MDA from 21 to 30 September 2020. The training for MDA…

City of Harare To Increase Refuse Collection Trucks Fleet- Mayor

September 11, 2020September 11, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

NEWLY elected Harare Mayor, Councilor (Cllr) Jacob Mafume has hinted that the local authority is working on increasing the fleet of garbage collection vehicles in order to match the increasing demand for services. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking through the official City of Harare Facebook account, Cllr Mafume said the city was expanding and this has exerted pressure on the already dilapidated fleet which also needs revamping. I do understand that we have some of our trucks stuck in South Africa due to the foreign currency issue. We will try to…

Fears Of Spike In STIs and Unintended Pregnancies As More Adolescent Girls Indulge In Unsafe Sex During Lockdown in Zimbabwe

September 11, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE prevailing lockdown has seen more young girls engaging in sexual activities with either older males and or boys of their ages, while a significant number of reports of sexual abuse against girls were also reported since Zimbabwe commenced its lockdown measures in March this year. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual meeting which was hosted by Plan International Zimbabwe, Maxwell Mhlanga, Plan Int Zimbabwe’s (PIZ) Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Manager said a survey they conducted in April indicated that more girls were indulging in sex…

Disabled Young People Struggle To Navigate SRH Social Spaces During Lockdown

September 10, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

YOUNG people with disabilities are finding it difficult to access sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services during the prevailing lockdown period due to a myriad of factors, chief among them being failure to participate in social spaces where SRHR information is provided. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual meeting on ending teenage pregnancies which was hosted by Plan International Zimbabwe under the theme “Unraveling the thread of teenage pregnancies during COVID 19,” Social Worker with JF Kapnek, Adam Mukushi said the COVID-19 had presented numerous challenges for…

COVID-19: Children From Poorest Households Have Suffered Greatest Loss Says Latest Save The Children Survey

September 10, 2020 Healthtimes

THE COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the education of children from poorer backgrounds and is widening the gap between rich and poor and boys and girls, a new global survey by Save the Children revealed today. Save the Children conducted the largest global survey of its kind among some 25,000 children and adults on the impact of the pandemic and according to the survey, over the past six months since the pandemic was announced, the most vulnerable children have disproportionately missed out on access to education, healthcare,…

Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Paused After Participant Develops Rare Illness Says AstraZeneca

September 9, 2020September 9, 2020 Healthtimes

LATE-stage trials for a leading coronavirus vaccine have been suspended after a study participant suffered a “potentially unexplained illness”. AstraZeneca has put on hold phase three trials of a vaccine being developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford. The Australian Government last month signed an agreement with the UK-based company to secure the potential COVID-19 vaccine, if its trials prove successful. In a statement, AstraZeneca said it “voluntarily paused” the phase 3 clinical trial — which kicked off in July — to allow a review of the “single event”…

Gvt Appoints COVID-19 Experts Advisory Committee

September 8, 2020September 8, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

INFORMATION, publicity and broadcasting services minister, minister Monica Mutsvangwa has announced a new COVID-19 Experts Advisory Committee comprising of experts from various fields of expertise. By Michael Gwarisa The committee will provide scientific based evidence, advice and guidance on the National COVID-19 preparedness and response. The public may recall that Cabinet approved the establishment of a COVID-19 Experts Advisory Committee, whose objective will be to provide science-based evidence, advice and guidance on the National COVID-19 Preparedness and Response in support of timely evidence- based policy decisions. “Today, Cabinet approved the…