Category: Health News

Health Minister Dumps NatPharm Retail Pharmacies

Healthtimes

GOVERNMENT has put plans of establishing NatPharm owned retail pharmacies on hold following indications that government has  decided to prioritise public health institutions, a Cabinet Minister revealed on Wednesday. By Kudakwashe Pembere Briefing a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health today, Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo said it wqas uncalled for to pursue the NatPharm deal. “Then you said are you going to be filling your NatPharm pharmacies. We are not even thinking of NatPharm Pharmacies. We will be very silly to be even thinking of that. “We…

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Contraceptive shortage hits Matabeleland North province

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GOVERNMENT run health facilities in Matabeleland North Province are experiencing a severe shortage of contraceptives. HealthTimes Reporter Health facilities visited over the past month reported very low supplies or mostly no supplies of oral contraceptives, injectables and implants. The province is also facing a dire shortage of condoms, worsening the situation. Health watchdog, Citizens Health Watch said the shortage undermines women’s reproductive health rights and increases the risk of unwanted pregnancies.  There are also concerns that women maybe be forced to resort to unsafe abortions as a result of unwanted…

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UN Refugee Agency rachets up relief airlift for Cyclone Idai

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THE United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) airlifted supplies for refugees affected by Cyclone Idai. The consignment, which arrived yesterday at Robert Mugabe International Airport yesterday evening, follows on the first consignment of emergency relief earmarked for Zimbabweans, which arrived on March 31. The supplies from the first consignment have been distributed in Chipinge and will reach Chimanimani next week. The airlift, which arrived at Robert G. Mugabe International Airport, includes blankets, kitchen sets, jerry cans, mosquito nets, solar lamps, sanitary pads and soap destined for Tongogara refugee camp,…

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Zim Launches US$ 621 million Cyclone Idai Appeal

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ZIMBABWE has published its Tropical Cyclone Idai International Humanitarian Appeal plan which requires a total of US$621 million to assist the Cyclone Idai distressed areas. By Kudakwashe Pembere In the plan signed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the areas need US$51 million to deal with Water Sanitation and Hygiene issues. “The massive flooding left a trail of destruction on water supply which crippled access to sources of safe water. The damages include submerged and washed away pumping systems and water reticulation networks. “Priority actions in this area include rehabilitation, upgrading and…

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Number Of Zim Children On ARVs Decline

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A recent global AIDS progress report released by the National Aids Council (NAC) in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and UNAIDS indicates there was a drop in the number of children on Antiretro Viral Therapy (ART) in 2018. By Michael Gwarisa The decline has been attributed to successful implementation of Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV efforts which include the adoption of new viral load and HIV testing technologies as well as the setting up of an EMTCT validation committee. According to the…

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RBZ Mum On Pharmaceutical Industry Forex Allocation

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THE Central Bank is not forthcoming in addressing complaints raised by pharmaceutical wholesalers where local banks have been refusing to allocate them foreign currency, HealthTimes has learnt. By Kudakwashe Pembere Since the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s directive putting pharmaceutical companies on high priority allowing them to get foreign currency without hassles at banks, they have been hitting brick walls. This has been a massive blow to the pharmaceutical industry who rely on foreign currency allocations to procure medicines. The industry has been failing to procure medicines as foreign suppliers have…

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780K Young Zim Women Living With HIV

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ZIMBABWEAN women and young girls living with HIV rank third highest in SADC region on the back of  legal and policy barriers as well as gender based violence, a UNAIDS report reveals. By Kudakwashe Pembere Tailing South Africa having the highest number of young women and adolescents of 4, 4 million and Mozambique with 1, 3 million, Zimbabwe has 780 000 young girls infected with the disease. The report UNAIDS: HIV and Women released on Tuesday notes these high figures have been attributed to the legal age of consent to…

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PEPFAR Unveils Legacy Mural Against Unprotected Sex

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UNITED States Presidential Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) celebrated their 15 years in fighting HIV in Zimbabwe in style through unveiling their legacy mural shunning risky sexual morals. By Kuda Pembere The commissioning of the mural was done at Glen View 3 Shops in partnership with Jibilika Dance Trust which organized and provided edutainment on Saturday. Speaking at the event, Center for Disease Control (CDC) branch chief for HIV services in  Zimbabwe, Dr Shirish Balachandra said the event coincided with PEPFAR’s 15 years in Zimbabwe. “Today is very important…

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GBV Cases Against Men On The Rise

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THERE has been an increase over the years in reportage of Gender Based Violence cases among males in Zimbabwe owing to immense sensitization of the controversial issue, the Anti-Domestic Violence Council said on Thursday. By Kudakwashe Pembere Despite the figures of women suffering at the hands of abusive husbands being high, statistics taken from the Zimbabwe Republic Police by the council show a rise in men reporting these cases more than women. According to figures announced by the ADVC, there was a 23 percent rise of cases reported by men with…

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Health Response Plan For Cyclone Idai Affected Areas

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THE Health and Child Care Ministry has developed a Health Response Plan for Manicaland to assist the affected, as well as health staff in Chimanimani and Chipinge. By Kudakwashe Pembere In an interview with the Ministry’s Director for Epidemiology and Disease Control Dr Portia Manangazira , she said the provincial medical directorate was also involved in making the plan covering the period until May. “We have as the health sector, sat down with the provincial medical directorate in Manicaland to come up with a Health Sector Medical Response Plan for…

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