Category: Health News

73 Countries Face ARVs Stock-outs Due To COVID-19 Warns WHO

Michael Gwarisa

SEVENTY-THREE countries have warned that they are at risk of stock-outs of antiretroviral (ARV) medicines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new WHO survey conducted ahead of the International AIDS Society’s biannual conference. Twenty-four countries reported having either a critically low stock of ARVs or disruptions in the supply of these life-saving medicines.  The survey follows a modelling exercise convened by WHO and UNAIDS in May which forecasted that a six-month disruption in access to ARVs could lead to a doubling in AIDS-related deaths in sub-Saharan…

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Remain on guard: WHO …as Zim marks 100 days of lockdown

Healthtimes

‘COVID-19 is not rocket science, it is a virus, it’s predictable…’ With complacency setting in in Zimbabwe, COVID-19 cases could spike if community engagement, messaging and a correct balancing act is not attained. As the country marks 100 days under lockdown, with relaxed measures allowing some sectors to resume duty, this should not be mistaken to mean the virus has receded. COVID-19 hasn’t. It is here for some time until a vaccine is found. Vaccines take time, it’s a process and not an event. Currently there is no cure. By…

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Gvt Prepares Domboshawa Training Centre To Quarantine Returnee Ex-Convicts

Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT is in the process of setting up Domboshawa Training center to accommodate ex-convicts returning from neighboring countries. By Michael Gwarisa In a media brief, Information, publicity and broadcasting services minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa said even though there were no known ex-convicts in quarantine centers at the moment, they were planning in advance, in case the need arises. With regards to the quarantining of ex-convicts the Domboshawa Training Centre is still being prepared to accommodate these, as an alternative to Prince Edward High School. However, currently, there are no known…

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Bring It On, We Have Nothing More To Lose, Striking Nurses Tell Gvt After Arrest of Colleagues

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have arrested and detained  Harare Hospital nurses for allegedly planning to stage a demonstration against slave wages, a move that has sparked anger amongst nurses. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZIMA) President, Enoch Dongo condemned the act and called on authorities to release the health workers immediately. Today, July 6, 2020, we have received information that nurses have been arrested at Harare Hospital. Indications are that the arrests were done allegedly for the purposes of avoiding a demonstration at Harare…

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U.S. Contributes $60.55 Million To WFP To Assist Zim During Lean Season.

Michael Gwarisa

[dropcap] THE[/dropcap] United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide $60.55 million toward the World Food Programme’s (WFP) 2020/21 Lean Season Food Assistance program in Zimbabwe. HealthTimes Reporter The lean season assistance will begin in August and will feed nearly one million people during the peak of the season, from January to April 2021. Zimbabwe faces one of its worst food security crises in a decade due to the combined effects of failed economic and agricultural policies, corruption, consecutive poor agricultural seasons, the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, and now,…

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Zim PLHIV Situation Room Launched

Michael Gwarisa

THE People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Situation Room has been launched in Zimbabwe as a means of enhancing communication and data collection system aimed at improving PLHIV engagement, inform service providers, and foster positive change in the HIV response. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual launch of the platform, Zimbabwe National Network Of People Living With HIV (ZNNP+) Executive Director, Mr Tatenda Makoni said the facility will boost advocacy work and facilitate communication between Civil Society Organisations and the HIV community. The program comes with a toll-free line and…

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21 Year Old Lady Becomes Zim’s Latest COVID-19 Death

Michael Gwarisa

A 21 year old young lady has become the latest COVID-19 casualty in Zimbabwe, bringing the total number of deaths to eight. By Michael Gwarisa The death comes at a time Zimbabwe is experiencing a spike in daily new infections with indications that local and community transmissions could be on the rise owing to the relaxation of restrictions. According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) daily COVID-19 update, the country recorded 7 new cases as at July,4 2020. “These include returnees from South Africa (55), Botswana (3),…

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Ministry receives chemotherapy drugs

Healthtimes

MINISTRY of Health and Child Care received a donation of 50 vials of Cisplatin chemotherapy drug from MaishaHealthFund and CassavaSmartech in partnership with Cancerserve Zimbabwe. The medicines were handed over at a ceremony held at the Ministry’s Head Office in Harare yesterday. Speaking at the ceremony on behalf of the Ministry, Acting Chief Director for Preventive Services Dr. Cremance Tshuma appreciated the donation saying that it will go a long way in helping the Ministry in the cancer treatment component where there have been financial challenges especially for common cancers…

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Ministry of Health to resuscitate the National Cancer Strategy

Healthtimes

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) says it is working on the cancer registry has revived the cancer registry snce the country had been operating without one. HealthTimes Reporter Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr John Mangwiro called for the revival of that strategy and tasked the Acting Secretary for Health, Dr Gibson Mhlanga to ensure that the National Cancer Prevention and Control Strategy for Zimbabwe was put in place. “You mentioned Dr Nyakabau that the cancer strategy expired in 2018, Dr Mhlanga we want that…

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Health Care Workers Strike Threatens Lives

Healthtimes

THE strike by Zimbabwe’s health care workers threatens lives and will plunge the country’s ailing health sector into a deeper crisis. Health watchdog, Citizens Health Watch (CHW) believes that this, coupled with damning revelations about massive corruption in the procurement of Covid 19 supplies is undermining the country’s response to the virus. HealthTimes Reporter Zimbabwe’s health care workers have for decades worked under extraordinary conditions in a healthcare sector that has been plundered by years of corruption, that is underfunded, has obsolete equipment and regular drug stock outs. The strike…

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