Category: Health News

Zim commences National Radiotherapy Guidelines

Healthtimes

By Kudakwashe Pembere Zimbabwe’s radiotherapy experts have engaged the International Atomic Energy Agency to hit the ground running on coming up with national clinical radiotherapy guidelines as part of the National Strategy on Cancer. Three IAEA experts from South Africa are in the country working with local radiotherapy experts to formulate standardized and internationally accepted guidelines on treating cancer patients using radiotherapy. Health and Childcare ministry’s Permanent Secretary Brigadier General (Retired) Dr. Gerald Gwinji told journalists on the sidelines of the launch of National Radiotherapy Guidelines that these guidelines are meant…

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Antiretroviral drug called TLE400 saves Zim $ 3, 6 million

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By Kudakwashe Pembere A first line regimen for HIV/AIDS treatment in Zimbabwe  called TLE 400 saved the country $3, 6 million this year alone. The treatment proving to be a ‘wonder’ drug miraculously reducing side effects along with a significant spend was launched yesterday in Harare. The drug funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was made by one of the world’s leading global pharmaceutical companies called Mylan. On March 10, 2017, Mylan received tentative approval from the U.S. FDA under PEPFAR for its New Drug Application for the…

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Shot in the arm for Heather Chimoga Orphan Care

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By Kudakwashe Pembere in Murehwa A Murehwa organisation that assists under-privileged children received a $150 000 grant from United States government through the United States Africa Development foundation. Heather Chimhoga Orphan Care (HOCC) is a Zimbabwean child welfare institution which  started with just six children scaling up to 784. Speaking at the grant signing ceremony in Murehwa yesterday, US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ambassador Harry Thomas said the funding shows USA’s continued commitment to help Zimbabweans in developing projects that improve living conditions that improve living conditions in their communities. “I…

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Free Sanitary Pads For Zim Women…As Government Contracts Local Manufacturer

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By Daniel Phiri WOMEN’S Affairs, Gender and Community Development Ministry says it is has contracted two companies in the country to manufacture sanitary pads that will be distributed for free or sold at low cost. Sanitary pads are a very critical component for women and girls reproductive health requirements but owing to their exorbitant cost, most are having to look for alternatives some of which could have after effects in the long run. Rural women and girls are said to be the most affected to the extent that some of…

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Drug Resistant TB Treatment Efforts Under Threat says MSF

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By Michael Gwarisa Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) says limited access to to new drug delamanid reduces promising treatment options available for those with drug-resistant tuberculosis. According to MSF, almost three quarters (74%) of patients receiving a combination of these drugs for six months achieved ‘culture conversion’, an early indicator that treatment might ultimately be successful. “The WHO endorses delamanid to replace the injectable agent for children and adolescents with DR-TB in cases of intolerance or resistance to some drugs, giving this group an option that is more effective and…

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Parliament To Boycott 2018 Budget Unless It Meets Abuja Target

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By Kudakwashe Pembere The Parliamentary Portfolio committee on Health  says it will not entertain a flimsy allocation of funds to the health sector in the forthcoming 2018 budget presentation unless the 15% Abuja target is met. This was said by Matabeleland North senator Sibusisiwe Budha-Masara at the Pre-budget review workshop organized by the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) held on Wednesday in Harare. “I think as a country, this is something that I would want Zimbabweans to consider even though there is little time for you to put your…

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People Living With Albinism Want Free Sunscreens

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By Michael Gwarisa  PEOPLE living with Albinism should be given free access to Sunscreens and lotions at all health facilities so to increase accessibility of the products and reduce skin cancers among people with albinism, Zimbabwe Albino Association director Mercy Maunganidze has said. Briefing delegates at the launch of the 2017 People Living With Albinism Awareness Campaign, Maunganidze said the  average cost of a Sunscreen tube and lotion costs between $8 and $20 and was beyond the reach of many adding that a person living with albinism requires four to five…

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MSF Establishes Effective Community Mental Health Model

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HealthTimes Correspondent  MEDICAL humanitarian organisation, Medecins Sans Frontieres/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have established an effective community mental health model of care in 12 polyclinics and one satellite clinic in Harare to enhance the provision of mental health care in the community. The community mental health care model is a pilot programme that was started by MSF in April 2016 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), the City of Harare health department and the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Department of Psychiatry. It involves…

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How I Survived Breast Cancer…The Story Of Sally Westwood

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 By Sally Westwood “You have a Lobular Carcinoma, and it’s a nasty one.” My stomach dropped to the floor in shock. That can’t be right. There’s no cancer in my family. “But the good news is”, my doctor continued “it’s a stage 1, at a very early stage.” Twelve years previously I had had breast reduction surgery and ever since my annual mammograms had shown up several ‘fatty necrosis’, which are common lumps after breast surgery or trauma of any kind. My mammogram in April had shown these up again…

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SAZ Celebrates World Standards Day

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By Michael Gwarisa THE Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) will join the rest of the world in commemorating the World Standards Day on October, 17, 2017 which will also coincide with the SAZ 60th Anniversary celebrations to be held in Harare. The celebrations will be running under the theme, “Standards make Cities Smarter” and will draw participants and attendance from various stakeholders. Speaking to HealthTimes, SAZ Director General who is also President of the African Organisation for Standardisation, Dr Eve Gadzikwa said the celebrations have come at a time when…

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