Health News |

Kick Out Stunting Campaign Starts On High Note

July 26, 2019July 26, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Civil Society Organisations Scaling Up Nutrition (ZCSOSUNA) has launched a campaign targeting adolescents with the aim of raising awareness around nutrition issues affecting young children in the country. By Michael Gwarisa The campaign dubbed “Kick out Stunting Campaign” uses sports and outdoor recreational activities to bring young people together and teach them the basics and essentials of nutrition. The campaign kicked off in Kuwadzana 6, Harare and was graced by several school pupils from schools in Kuwadzana who came to watch a football match between two of Corpus…

450 000 Women Receive Contraception In 2018: PSZ

July 25, 2019 Healthtimes

OVER 450 000 women obtained contraceptive services from Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ) in 2018. By Kudakwashe Pembere This was said by PSZ Country Director Mr Abebe Shibru at the official opening of their clinic in Epworth on Thursday. “In the year 2018 alone, more than 450 000 women received a contraceptive services provided by Population Services Zimbabwe,” he said. He however bemoaned the large gap in undeserved and unmet need. Access to Long Acting And Permanent Methods (LAPMs) is still very limited nationwide and represents just 11 percent of the Modern…

Implications of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 on the Health Sector

July 25, 2019 Healthtimes

THE government through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development recently announced major changes in the monetary policy of Zimbabwe following the imposition of the Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019. By Zimbabwe AIDS Network Monetary policy is a macroeconomic policy that is laid down by the central bank of a country to show the financial plan of the government. As the Zimbabwean economy imploded, characterized by hyperinflationary environment in 2008, the country abandoned its local currency, the Zimbabwean dollar, in April 2009 as the official currency and adopted the multicurrency…

Zim Prepared To Deal With Ebola- Gvt

July 24, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE just like any other country in the region, is not safe from the Ebola outbreak which has already been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO), a top government official has said. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Agnes Mahomva said Zimbabwe takes the WHO Ebola warning seriously. We stand very much guided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) we know they are a strong technical arm of the world…

Corruption Reigns Supreme In Zim’s Health Sector-Report

July 23, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) has revealed shocking details of the endemic corruption which has eaten deep into Zimbabwe’s health sector. By Michael Gwarisa An assessment carried out by ACT-SA indicates that Medical practitioners in the employ of the government also operate private businesses (clinics, hospital and surgeries) and are accused of spending more time at their private businesses than at government hospitals amongst a host of other ills. Mr. David Jamali, the Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) urged the Government of Zimbabwe to…

Free Blood Initiative Hangs In Limbo…As Gvt Delays Financial Allocation

July 23, 2019July 25, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary, Dr Agnes Mahomva has professed ignorance as to how much and when they will be disbursing their 2019 allocation towards the free blood initiative, a situation which poses a threat to the continuation of the program. By Michael Gwarisa In 2018, government committed to financing the free blood initiative through funding from the health levy which was introduced in 2017 under the then minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa’s administration. However, indications on the ground are that since beginning of the year, no…

Dolutegravir Now Safe For All Women: WHO

July 23, 2019 Healthtimes

THE World Health Organisation says it is now safe to use dolutegravir as a preferred antiretroviral drug on all populations including pregnant women and those of childbearing potential following new evidence assessing benefits and risks By Kudakwashe Pembere Initial studies highlighted a possible link between DTG and neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain and spinal cord that cause conditions such as spina bifida) in infants born to women using the drug at the time of conception. This caused some scepticism of the drug. This potential safety concern was…

300 Mentally Ill Inmates Trapped In Zim Prisons

July 23, 2019July 23, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

A total of 300 prisoners diagnosed with mental disorders have spent more than 10 years detained inside Chikurubi Maximum prison and other correctional facilities around the country due to the absence of a mental health tribunal review board. By Michael Gwarisa This was revealed by Bulawayo Metropolitan legislator, Honourable Jasmine Toffa during an oral evidence session where Ministry of Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary, Dr Agnes Mahomva was briefing Parliament on the steps government has taken to resolve the Mental Health Tribunal Board issue. It’s not just a few outstanding…

Close Service Gaps To End HIV/AIDS Among Children and Adolescents: UNAIDS

July 22, 2019 Healthtimes

A new report released by UNAIDS today at the 10th IAS Conference on HIV Science in Mexico City, Mexico, shows that the world is lagging behind in its commitment to end the AIDS epidemic among children and adolescents. By Kudakwashe Pembere According to the report titled Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free the pace of progress in reducing new HIV infections among children and expanding access to treatment for children, adolescents and pregnant women living with HIV has slowed significantly. Further, global targets set for 2018 have been missed, despite…

VP Chiwenga Flown To China For Medical Tests

July 22, 2019July 22, 2019 Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been flown to China from for some medical tests, a Cabinet official said. By Kudakwashe Pembere Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba in a statement said VP Chiwenga left this week. “The Office of the President and Cabinet wishes to inform the Nation that the Vice President this week left for the People’s Republic of China where he is set to undergo further medical tests,” he said. Charamba added, “His relocation to China, which builds on the satisfactory recovery progress he has been making, follows…