Category: Health News

Mashonaland West Pregnant Women Told To Bring Own Fuel

Healthtimes

THE current power crisis and ever-rising fuel costs bedevilling Zimbabwe has left pregnant women in Mashonaland West bearing the brunt of buying fuel themselves for use during childbirth. By Kudakwashe Pembere A source who spoke on condition of anonymity told HealthTimes that women were told to bring their own fuel by health workers in the province and this been happening for a while now. “Women in some health facilities in Mashonaland West are made to buy all sundries which they cannot afford and in some facilities are made to bring…

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South Africa Defers Dolutegravir Rollout

Healthtimes

Stocks of the new treatment are already on the shelves of some clinics — but lingering concerns over a possible low risk of birth defects associated with this new antiretroviral have stalled the country’s switch to better medication for a second time. SOURCE: BHEKISISA The national health department has been forced to postpone a nationwide rollout of the latest blockbuster HIV treatment amid persistent concerns about what may be a low risk of birth defects linked to the drug’s use. This is despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) greenlighting the…

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Doctors Incapacitation Moves To Another Level… Stay Away Could Go Beyond 100 Days

Michael Gwarisa

THE situation in public health institutions has ground to a halt at the back of a prevailing impasse between government and doctors to resolve the prevailing labour dispute which has seen doctors leaving their work stations 43 days ago. By Michael Gwarisa The doctors’ labour action was last week declared illegal by the Labour Court which ordered them to resume their duties. However, the doctors maintain that the court order does not capacitate them and neither does it bring food to their tables. Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), acting Secretary…

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Health Minister Engages Municipal Clinics

Healthtimes

HEALTH and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo says they have engaged the services of Harare and Bulawayo local authority health facilities to offer health services while waiting for the doctors who withdrew their labour to return. Dr Moyo said he spoke with Harare City Health Services Dr Prosper Chonzi on this issue. He said they sent medicines to the clinics as a way of capacitating them. The Health Minister said for emergency services they are relying on the senior doctors who did not withdraw their services as consultants in…

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Lower New TB Drug Price Further- MSF

Michael Gwarisa

DOCTORS Without Borders (MSF) says they acknowledge the lower price offered to the government of South Africa for newer anti tuberculosis (TB) drug, delamanid, but have called for it to be significantly lower and expanded to all countries in need. By Michael Gwarisa Mylan, which licenses the drug from the patent-holder Otsuka, will charge about US$940 for a six-month treatment course about $157 per month as of 1 June 2020 in South Africa. Delamanid is used in combination with other drugs to treat people with drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), including the…

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Sanitary Pads Crisis Hit University Students

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S urban young girls feel cheated on the pricing and quality of sanitary pads being made in the country. By Kudakwashe Pembere This emerged at the launch of a Menstrual Health Promotion Campaign funded by the Swedish Embassy with the implementation done by Population Services International (PSI) Zimbabwe. Contrary to popular belief stating how menstrual products are expensive to those living in the rural areas, young girls living in the urban areas also feel the pinch. SayWhat Sexual Reproductive Health Rights advocate at the University of Zimbabwe Munashe Mhaka said university…

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#BREAKING: Court Orders Doctors To Return To Work

Michael Gwarisa

THE labour Court has told doctors to abandon the strike and resume work immediately. By Michael Gwarisa Justice Lawrence Murasi today ruled that the strike was illegal thereby asking the Zimbabwe Hospitals Doctors Association members to terminate the collective job action. “It is ordered that the collective job action engaged by members of respondent on September 3 2019 be and is hereby declared unlawful. The said collective job action be and is hereby ordered to be terminated forthwith.” Details to follow….

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Zimbabwean girls ‘take over’ UN leadership

Michael Gwarisa

GIRLS selected from the Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe today took over roles as leaders in the United Nations (UN) and six of its  agencies in commemoration of International Day of the Girl Child. The girls were selected from the Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe through an essay competition took the helm of UN leadership replacing the roles of the UN Resident Coordinator, and six UN heads of Agencies making a symbolic statement on the need to empower girls to make decisions, assume leadership roles, and live and thrive in a gender…

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End Stigma Against Mental Illnesses Says Health Minister

Healthtimes

HEALTH and Childcare Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo says Zimbabwe should end stigma associated to those living with mental illnesses to avert suicides. By Kudakwashe Pembere Officiating the World Mental Health Day which was themed focusing on suicide prevention, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo Zimbabwe need to start talking about this silent epidemic of suicides. “The theme for this year’s mental health day happens to be suicide prevention. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 after road traffic accidents. And…

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#BREAKING: Judgement On Doctors VS HSB Case Deferred To A Later Date

Michael Gwarisa

THE Labour Court has set the ruling for a case between junior doctors and the Health Service Board to a later date By Kudakwashe Pembere The case pitted doctors under the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association and HSB on withdrawal of services due to incapacitation. This was after the judges heard submissions by lawyers from both parties who explained the withdrawal of services by the incapacitated doctors along with the remedies provided within the Labour Act and Health Service Act should doctors as part of essential services. The Labour Court judges…

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