Health News |

Dr. Agnes Mahomva Enters Race for AU Commissioner Role

February 6, 2025 Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter Harare, Zimbabwe – Dr. Agnes Mahomva, Zimbabwe’s renowned public health expert and policy strategist has officially announced her candidacy for the position of Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development at the African Union (AU). With over three decades of experience in public health leadership, she aims to bring transformative solutions to Africa’s pressing healthcare and social challenges. Dr. Mahomva’s campaign is anchored on the principles of strengthening health systems, ensuring universal health coverage, improving humanitarian response, promoting social inclusion, and fostering innovation. She envisions an…

Repeated Oral Polio Vaccinations Safe, Crucial for Outbreak Response – MoHCC

February 6, 2025 Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Amid growing concerns from parents and guardians over the frequent administration of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has assured the public that the vaccine is safe and necessary to halt transmission. Zimbabwe’s environmental surveillance detected a vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) strain circulating in sewage systems in Harare’s high-density suburbs, Budiriro, Mbare, and Mufakose, in 2023. In response, the Ministry has been conducting multiple rounds of vaccination campaigns targeting children under the age of 10. From February 4 to…

PSH Works to Restore HIV Services At All New Start Centres

February 6, 2025February 6, 2025 Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Population Solutions for Health (PSH) is working tirelessly to resume HIV services previously offered at New Start Centres, following a funding review initiated by the U.S. State Department under the administration of former President Donald Trump. The closure of New Start Centres is part of PSH’s compliance with the U.S. government directive. However, a waiver on health-related funding was later introduced to prevent the collapse of Africa’s under-resourced health systems. In an interview, PSH executive director Dr. Noah Taruberekera stated that while he could not comment on…

Zimbabwe to Expand Electronic Health Records to 500 More Facilities in 2025

February 5, 2025 Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The rollout of the Impilo Electronic Health Records (EHR) system has gained momentum, with 500 more health facilities set to adopt the technology in 2025. These new deployments will add to the 1,197 health facilities across Zimbabwe that have already implemented the system since the project’s commencement in 2021. Speaking in an interview with HealthTimes, Dr. Aspect Maunganidze, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Permanent Secretary, said the expansion will prioritize high-volume health facilities and strategically located sites. Cumulatively, 1,197 facilities have been equipped with…

Majority of Deaths in Zimbabwe’s Rural Communities Go Unregistered

February 5, 2025 Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa While 70% of deaths in Zimbabwe occur in rural communities, nearly half of those deaths are not registered with the Civil Registry Department. Although Zimbabwean law mandates compulsory death registration, compliance in rural areas remains low, with many deaths going unrecorded. This has raised concerns about the accuracy of national demographic data, affecting population projections, disease surveillance, epidemic tracking, and mortality pattern analysis. Letisia Zengeya, Assistant Registrar General for Births and Deaths, attributed the low death registration rates to the inaccessibility of registration centers and a lack…

Ebola Breaks Out in Uganda as US Halts Foreign Aid

February 5, 2025February 5, 2025 Healthtimes

By Nakisanze Segawa, GPJ Uganda KAMPALA, UGANDA — One nurse died from the Sudan Ebola virus in Uganda on Jan. 29. Two more cases were confirmed days later — and hundreds of people were direct contacts. The virus spreads fast, and it’s deadly: The Sudan strain’s fatality rate ranged from 40% to 100% in past outbreaks, and there are no approved vaccines. Now, the United States Agency for International Development, a key partner in treating Ebola and slowing its spread, has stopped all funding for global health and all of…

Zimbabwe Slashes Import Tariffs on E-Cigarettes

February 4, 2025 Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Harare, Zimbabwe – The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, has introduced significant amendments to the customs and excise tariffs on electronic cigarettes and related devices. The changes were formalised in Statutory Instrument 11 of 2025 and are part of the government’s broader strategy to boost revenue through sin taxes on products deemed harmful to public health. The latest adjustment reduces the duty on e-cigarettes and similar personal electric vaporizing devices from the previous rate of USD 0.5 per milliliter/unit to USD 0.1 per milliliter/unit.…

Nurses Slam New Tax Clearance Rule as Unnecessary Burden, Warn of Impact on Patient Care

February 3, 2025February 3, 2025 Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwean nurses have criticized the newly introduced tax clearance requirement for renewing nurses’ practicing certificates, calling it unnecessary and cumbersome. The Zimbabwe Nurses Association warns that the policy could negatively affect patient care across the country. The controversy stems from a recent announcement by the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe (NCZ) mandating that nurses obtain a tax clearance certificate from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) before renewing their practicing certificates. Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZNA) President Enock Dongo, in an interview with HealthTimes, argued that the requirement unfairly burdens…

Delayed Maternal Care in Rural Zimbabwe Leading to Preventable Deaths

February 3, 2025 Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Most women in Zimbabwe who die during childbirth do so due to delays in receiving appropriate and adequate care at health facilities. Also known in medical terms as the “Third Delay,” this delay in accessing care is the leading cause of maternal mortality in rural areas. Speaking at a recent meeting in Harare, Dr. Chipo Chimamise, the National Maternal Health Officer in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) emphasized that poor-quality maternal care remains the primary driver of high maternal deaths in Zimbabwe. 95% of…

KidzCan Launches Orange Month to Fight Childhood Cancer

February 3, 2025February 3, 2025 Michael Gwarisa

KidzCan Zimbabwe has launched Orange Month, a nationwide campaign aimed at raising awareness and support for children battling cancer. Held every February, Orange Month seeks to highlight the challenges faced by children with cancer and mobilize communities to take action in providing medical and emotional support. KidzCan emphasized the importance of early detection and access to treatment. “Childhood cancer is treatable if detected early, and through Orange Month, we want to spread this message while also rallying support for affected families,” they said. The campaign will feature a series of…