Category: Health News

#BREAKING: Cimas Announces Cover For COVID-19 Positive Members

Healthtimes

CIMAS Medical Aid Society has announced that it will provide any of its members who test positive for COVID-19 with medical aid cover for subsequent treatment and clearance tests at the end of their treatment. By Kuda Pembere The cover, which is subject to the benefit levels provided for in the member’s medical aid package, includes admission to any hospital approved for COVID-19 patients, treatment in an intensive care unit within the hospital, all prescription drugs in and out of hospital and up to three clearance tests, in line with…

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#COVID-19: Zimbabwe Blindly Dealing With COVID-19- ZADHR Report

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S COVID-19 management competencies fall far below the expected World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, a report by the Zimbabwe Association for Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has gathered. HealthTimes Reporter According to the ZADHR “4th COVID-19 Monitoring and Advocacy Report: 20 May 2020,” Zimbabwe was not following proper consultation procedures in dealing with the pandemic. ZADHR notes with concern the lack of evidence-based decision making in informing the extension of the national lockdown in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean government has shown a lethargic approach towards conducting widespread PCR diagnostic tests for…

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#COVID-19: The United States Continues to Lead the Global Response to COVID-19 Fact Sheet

Healthtimes

THE United States Government (USG) continues to lead the global response against the COVID-19 pandemic amidst indications that they have already set aside and given more than US$10 billion towards fighting the global health crisis. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the U.S. Government has committed more than $900 million in State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) emergency health, humanitarian, economic, and development assistance specifically aimed at helping governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) fight the pandemic.  This funding, provided by Congress, will save lives by improving…

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#COVID-19: Majority Zim COVID-19 Patients Being Managed From Home…Most Cases Have Mild Symptoms

Michael Gwarisa

A number of COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe are showing mild symptoms and are being managed from home, newly appointed acting permanent secretary in the ministry of health and child, Dr Gibson Mhlanga has said. By Michael Gwarisa The world over, patients who have mild illness, such as low-grade fever, cough, malaise, rhinorrhoea, sore throat without any warning signs, such as shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, increased respiratory (i.e. sputum or haemoptysis), gastro-intestinal symptoms such as nausea may not need hospitalization  unless there is concern for rapid clinical deterioration.…

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OP-ED-We Will Not Defeat COVID-19 Without Including Africa In The Global Response

Healthtimes

IN much of the global COVID-19 conversation, Africa is barely mentioned. But the risks which the COVID-19 crisis brings are even greater in Africa than elsewhere – and those risks will be compounded if Africa is marginalized in the global response. By Winnie Byanyima and John Nkengasong Beating COVID-19 in Africa, in turn, is essential for beating it worldwide. African leadership and global solidarity are both essential to overcoming the COVID-19 crisis in Africa, and Africa’s citizens demand nothing less. Economic and social determinants of ill-health are strong predictors of…

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#COVID-19: CSOs Caution Gvt To Consider Economic Impact Of Indefinite Lockdown

Michael Gwarisa

HEALTH Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have welcomed government’s move to extend the lockdown but warned against instituting measures that could negatively affect the vulnerable and the country’s highly informalised economy. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HalthTimes, Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive director, Mr Itai Rusike said the lockdown extension was a welcome move given the spike in new Covid-19 cases and there was no room for wishful thinking when dealing with a global health pandemic. We need to remain vigilant and fully prepared to deal with…

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#COVID-19: Veteran journalist shares practical tips for pandemic coverage

Healthtimes
Bill_Hinchberger

VETERAN journalism, Bill Hinchberger shared practical steps that journalists can use when covering pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday. In a webinar conducted via Zoom  last Tuesday, Pasis based Hinchberger implored journalists to turn to journalism basics when confronted with challenges that come with novel situations such as pandemics. (Click HERE To access Zoom Webinar presentation) By a Correspondent “There is a distinction between us doing good journalism and what powerful people including politicians and people think about it,” said Bill. Sometimes we do good journalism and then…

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Medical Solutions Donates Face Shields To Harare and Bulawayo City Councils

Michael Gwarisa

RECENTLY Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) certified medical equipment manufacturer, Medical Solutions Zimbabwe has donated a total of 200 face shields towards the Zimbabwe COVID-19 battle. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes soon after the handover event, Medical Solutions Director, Shepard Chakanza said the 200 face shields would be distributed evenly between the Harare and Bulawayo City councils health departments to advance the fight against the raging COVID-19 pandemic. We went to Wilkins  after we were told by the City of Harare to go and make a donation…

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Zim Women Ready To Embrace Donor Breast Milk For Infant Feeding- Study

Michael Gwarisa

A new study conducted by a group of Zimbabwean nutritionists has gathered that Zimbabwean working class women would prefer substituting breast feeding with breast milk from donors as compared to formulas. By Michael Gwarisa The study  titled “Acceptability of donor breastmilk banking among health workers: a cross-sectional survey in Zimbabwean urban settings,” was conducted by a team of seven nutritionists namely Dexter Chagwena, Felistas Mugariri, Steady Mataga, Ruvimbo Danda, Tonderayi Matsungo and Charles Maponga. The concept of donor human milk banking was acceptable among health workers. One-third (31%) of the…

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