Category: Health News

Prof Smelly Dube honored as the Most Inspiring Personality in Africa

Healthtimes

By Staff Writer Rivervalley Group of Companies Chief Executive Prof Dr. Smelly Dube has been inducted into the 2025 Peace Achievers International hall of fame as the Most Inspiring Personality of Africa. Along with other eminent Africans, she was honoured at a ceremony held in Abuja on November 8 for her contrbutions in achieving world peace and international harmony. In the citation, the organisers wrote: “Consistent with its mission to establish world Peace, Peace Ambassador Agency and DAVDAN Peace and Advocacy Foundation acknowledges as Ambassador for Peace, those individuals whose…

Read More

Zimbabwe’s Medicines Regulatory Body Registers Lencapavir

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has announced the expedited approval of Lenacapavir, an innovative long-acting medicine for pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV-1 infection. The MCAZ Director-General, Mr. Richard T. Rukwata, said “the rapid approval of Lenacapavir reflects the Authority’s dedication to accelerating access to trusted, high-quality health products and brings new hope for HIV prevention while reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding public health.” Lenacapavir was assessed and approved by the Registration Committee under the expedited review process, as it is considered to be…

Read More

ZiCHIRe Expands Outreach in Hopely with Brotha2Brotha Campaign

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research project (ZiCHIRe) on Friday held an awareness campaign under the Brotha2Brotha initiative targeting adolescent boys and young men. The campaign comes in the nick of time as many programs in the Sexual Reproductive Health space have been pregnant with activities centred on adolescent girls and young women. Speaking with HealthTimes, Tonderai Mushove , Brotha2Brotha Program Coordinator at ZICHIRE said the event provided their target population, the males aged between 10 and 24, an opportunity to get information on SRH services. The…

Read More

WAG Welcomes High Court Ruling Striking Down Parts of Abortion Law

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The Women’s Action Group (WAG) has commended the judiciary for a landmark ruling that struck down parts of Zimbabwe’s abortion law. The High Court declared unconstitutional several provisions of the Termination of Pregnancy Act, ruling that they violate fundamental rights, particularly those of mentally ill women and victims of sexual abuse in mental health institutions. Justice Sylvia Chirawu-Mugomba, delivering the judgment, ruled that section 4(a) of the law governing circumstances under which a pregnancy may be lawfully terminated “to the extent that it excludes mental health” fails…

Read More

Sweden Shows the World That Tobacco Harm Reduction Works

Michael Gwarisa

By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma Sweden has become a global reference point for effective tobacco harm reduction, achieving some of the lowest smoking rates while many countries continue to struggle. Their success is largely attributed to a pragmatic approach that encourages smokers to switch from combustible cigarettes to significantly lower-risk alternatives such as snus and regulated nicotine products. Data shows that daily smoking rates have dropped sharply, resulting in notable improvements in public health. This discussion took centre stage on Day 4 of the Good COP 2.0, held concurrently with the…

Read More

Cimas Sets Stage for Inaugural @80 Media Awards in Bulawayo

Healthtimes

By Staff Reporter  Cimas Health Group will tonight host the inaugural Cimas @80 Media Awards at Cresta Churchill Hotel in Bulawayo, marking a major milestone in the organisation’s 80th anniversary celebrations. The awards, launched in September and supported by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), aim to honour outstanding health journalism that contributes to a well-informed and health-literate society. The Cimas @80 Media Awards recognise excellence across four key categories: Healthcare Transformation, Health and Wellness, Excellence in Medical Innovation, and Public Health Awareness. These categories reflect areas where journalism plays…

Read More

City of Harare Confirms Widespread Outbreak Across Suburbs

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Harare is grappling with a Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak, with nearly 600 cases reported across the capital. As of November 20, City of Harare Epidemiologist Dr Michael Vere confirmed 575 cases, most of them concentrated in the Mabvuku-Tafara suburbs. “Yes, indeed, we’ve been recording hand, foot and mouth disease cases throughout the city of Harare. These children, usually those under the age of 10, are presenting with blisters on the hands, feet, around the lips and inside the oral cavity,” Dr Vere said. He noted…

Read More

Health Minister Warns AMR Could Reverse Medical Progress

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Uncontrolled Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has the potential to reverse decades of medical progress and increase the severity of infections once treatable, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora warned on Thursday. Speaking at the opening of the Zimbabwe Antimicrobial Resistance Scientific Conference, Dr Mombeshora said AMR is more than a public health issue. “Antimicrobial Resistance or AMR is more than a health concern. It is a developmental, agricultural and societal issue. If left unchecked, it could undo decades of progress in medicine and make common infections…

Read More

Health Experts Warn WHO Against Full Tobacco Ban and Call for Balanced Regulation

Healthtimes

By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma For decades, global public health experts have agreed on one thing: banning a dangerous substance rarely eliminates its use. It often pushes the trade underground, where governments lose visibility and control. Regulation, however, gives policymakers room to monitor, manage and gradually reduce harm. This tension now sits at the center of a growing global debate. As the World Health Organization (WHO) considers tightening international controls on tobacco production under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), major tobacco-producing economies fear that sweeping restrictions could trigger economic…

Read More

WHO FCTC Secretariat’s Assumptions on Nicotine Alternatives Are Misguided

Healthtimes

By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma While there is broad evidence that tobacco cessation is achievable through several approaches, including tobacco harm reduction, it remains unclear why the Secretariat of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) continues to insist that all nicotine products are the same or that they all pose equal harm. Despite evidence showing that non-tobacco nicotine products play a key role in smoking cessation, the WHO has spent decades attempting to establish tobacco control measures that have delivered limited impact. The tobacco epidemic remains…

Read More