Category: Health News

Breaking: Zim Acquires Latest Coronavirus Testing Technology

Michael Gwarisa

REAGENTS and test kits for identifying the 2019 Wuhan Novel Coronavirus are now in country, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said on Monday. By Kudakwashe Pembere Previously, the country relied on South Africa to test for the 2019 n-CoV.Zimbabwe has the equipment required for this feat housed at the National Health Laboratory Services at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Mpilo Victoria Falls Airport. The reagents are in country, this is what we are saying. Besides that we are sourcing kits for the rapid testing which takes 15 minutes.…

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AU Summit: African leaders call for action to end malnutrition by 2025

Healthtimes

AFRICAN countries have made progress toward eradicating malnutrition and stunting but need to do more to hit United Nations malnutrition targets by 2025. This was the main message of a meeting that took place during the 33rd African Union Summit. Speakers at a meeting of the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) included the heads of state of Madagascar, Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone, national ministers of health as well as African Development Bank (AfDB.org) President Akinwumi Adesina, head of the African Development Bank. Leaders acknowledged the scope of the challenge…

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Five Die In Byo, As Prophets Order Them To Stop Taking ARVs

Michael Gwarisa

AT least five people died in Bulawayo in the period leading to the 2019 festive season following indications that they had discontinued taking Antiretroviral medications at their prophets’ orders, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Bulawayo The revelation came into the open when members of various HIV and AIDS support revealed that they stumbled upon stashes of Antiretroviral treatment drugs in the deceased’s’ rooms while some had publicly confessed that they had been ordered to stop taking their medications by their pastors and prophets. National Aids Council Bulawayo…

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Nutritionists Concerned Over MICS Results On Minimum Acceptable Diet

Healthtimes

NUTRITION advocates on Friday expressed reservations over what they feel could be a misrepresentation of reality on the Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD) results produced in the latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS). By Kuda Pembere A nutritionally acceptable MAD takes into account that children should consume at least four of the seven food groups. Minimum Acceptable diet defined by WHO as is the proportion of children 6–23 months of age who receive a minimum acceptable diet (both minimum dietary diversity and the minimum meal frequency) during the previous 24 hours.…

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US$200 000 Food and Nutrition Boost For Tongogara Refugees

Michael Gwarisa

THE Republic of Korea has donated an amount to the tune of US$200 000 to support critical food and nutrition needs for at least 14 000 refugees of Tongogara Refugee Camp (TRC). By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at the official handover ceremony of the financial facility, World Food Program (WFP) Country Representative Mr Eddie Rowe said the gesture by the Korean government would improve the daily food requirements of refugees at a time when the country was experiencing high demand for food assistance. Refugee populations around the world are one of…

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Operations Of Hope Targets Bumper Facial Reconstruction Surgeries In Zim

Michael Gwarisa

THE all  Volunteer US and Canadian Surgical team, OPERATION OF HOPE  aims to conduct not less than 90 free facial reconstructive surgeries in Zimbabwe in May 2020 as the organisation marks 31 years of reviving hope and putting smiles  on faces around the globe. By Michael Gwarisa The may visit also marks  the organsation’s  26th surgical mission to Zimbabwe. Since 2006, they have performed more than 5,000 free cleft surgeries for children and adults in Zimbabwe, alone.  This year more than 90 children and adults are targeted for a free facial reconstructive surgery at …

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Zim Readies Global Fund Proposal

Healthtimes

WITH Zimbabwe’s Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) approving the proposed budget outline, the country should submit its proposal for the Global Fund grant by March 23, 2020, HealthTimes has learned. By Kudakwashe Pembere In an update for the country concept note development for the Global Fund To Fight TB, HIV and Malaria Grant 2021 to 2023 seen by this publication, the final draft should be undergoing review starting March. The writing exercise is on-going, with the country expected to submit the proposal on the 23rd March 2020, with the…

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Zim’s New Cancer Treatment Guidelines To Be Published This Year

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S Health and Child Care Ministry is closeto completing latest national cancer treatment (oncology) guidelines at primary care levels with publishing expected this year. By Kudakwashe Pembere In an interview with University of Zimbabwe head of radiotherapy and oncology Dr Ntokozo Ndlovu involved in the review of the guidelines last done in 1992, she said work started and is expected to be completed this year. In terms of where we are in the stage of development in this stage of guidelines, we are almost there. Most of the chapters have…

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Call To Raise Awareness On Neglected Tropical Diseases

Healthtimes

HEALTH and Climate Change advocates and gurus are of the notion that awareness raising from as early as primary school ages on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) is necessary to reduce their burden in Zimbabwe. By Kudakwashe Pembere With the nation launching the Zimbabwe School Health Policy in 2018, experts feel awareness is important so that people can prevent themselves from these NTDs. In separate interviews with these interested parties on the sidelines of Global Shapers Harare NTD Day Commemorations, it emerged that lack of awareness is derailing efforts made in…

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Dedicates Additional Funding to the Novel Coronavirus Response

Healthtimes

SEATTLE, February 5, 2020 – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced that it will immediately commit up to $100 million for the global response to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The funding will help strengthen detection, isolation and treatment efforts; protect at-risk populations; and develop vaccines, treatments and diagnostics. The new funding is inclusive of $10 million the foundation committed to the outbreak in late January. “Multilateral organizations, national governments, the private sector and philanthropies must work together to slow the pace of the outbreak, help countries protect…

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