Category: Health News

Critical Gaps in Vital Monitoring Threaten Care Outcomes In Those Ageing With HIV In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa For 21 years, Martha Tholanah (60) has lived with HIV. She has experienced it all, from the days when an HIV diagnosis was a death sentence to today, when people living with HIV can lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Testing positive on January 3, 2003, Martha recalls her heartbreak when health workers informed her that her CD4 count was below 200. I had fallen sick and had to get tested. I had also just been accepted for a new job, so I needed to know where I stood.…

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Meet Dr. Dhodho: The Once Sickly Village Boy Who Transformed Rural Zimbabwe’s HIV Response

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa He wears many hats. Dr. Efison Dhodho is currently the Knowledge Manager for the Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians, a dedicated researcher, and the Director for Strategic Information, Evaluation, Learning, and Information Technology Systems at the Organization for Public Health Interventions and Development (OPHID). Born into a family of 13 as the fifth child, Dr. Dhodho recalls how his fragile health as a child necessitated moving to live with his mother, a rural nurse in Mwenezi District, while his siblings stayed with their father, a teacher.…

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Scientists discover how many times men should have sex per year to greatly reduce risk of heart disease

Healthtimes

Start having sex for your heart, not your penis For the benefit of your heart, you might need to start getting more active in the bedroom, according to new research. Taking care of our bodies is crucial and necessary for everyone, but not everyone ties that into sexual frequency. A recent study has suggested men should be having quite a lot of sex to help significantly reduce the risk of heart disease in later life. Expert scientists from China, concluded that men who engage in sexual activity more often are…

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Renowned Health Journalist Rumbidzai Zinyuke Appointed to National AIDS Council Board

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Seasoned health journalist and the current senior health reporter at The Herald, Rumbidzai Zinyuke, has been appointed to the National AIDS Council (NAC) board. Zinyuke will represent the media on the board, bringing her expertise to the national fight against HIV and AIDS. Commenting on her appointment, Zinyuke said, “I am honored to be appointed as a board member representing the media on the National AIDS Council board. The media plays a critical role in the fight against HIV and AIDS, not only in raising awareness about…

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New NAC Board Appointed

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere A new National AIDS Council executive board of 12 members has been set up, chaired by Mrs Nester Mukwehwa. Deputising Mrs Mukwehwa is Advocate Jaison Dzvetero. It consists of old and new members while having other board members which include Dr Matthew Mare, Mrs Tendayi Westerhof, Dr Gilbert Chahwanda, Ms Mabel T. Buzuzi, Ms Rumbidzayi Zinyuke, Mr Isheanesu Nkomo, Mr Jaison Muradzikwa, Mrs Beatrice Dupwa, Mr Ralphel Tsivama, Dr Ntombizanele A. Vella, Dr Wenceslas Nyamayaro, and Dr Bernard Madzima who is the chief executive officer. Speaking on…

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Zimbabwe Nurses Council Warns Employers of Fake Certificates of Good Standing

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Nurses Council of Zimbabwe (NCZ) has urged global employers to verify the authenticity of Certificates of Good Standing (CGS) issued to nurses from Zimbabwe. This follows a surge in the circulation of fake documents by unscrupulous organizations. A Certificate of Good Standing is a legal document verifying a nurse’s professional reputation and good behavior within the community. It has become one of the most sought-after documents in Zimbabwe, as it significantly enhances a nurse’s chances of securing employment in the international market. Mr. Benjamin Maheya, Registrar…

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Glendale’s Failing Sewer and Water Systems Spark Deadly Cholera Outbreak

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In Glendale, mornings are no longer a time of fresh beginnings. Instead, residents wake to an unbearable reality, human excreta strewn across their doorsteps. Burst sewer pipes, left unrepaired for months, spew waste into the streets, forcing entire neighborhoods to navigate pools of sludge. The stench of decaying matter clings stubbornly to the air, invading homes and harassing nostrils with every breath. Among those most affected is the Nyirongo family residing in the Highway section of Glendale, whose ordeal serves as a chilling reminder of the public…

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Mbare fears another cholera outbreak as residents endure four months of sewage

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Amidst the rainy season, Mbare residents are entering their fourth month with burst sewer pipes, triggering fears of another cholera outbreak. This emerged during a tour of the oldest density suburb in Harare by the Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Honourable Sleiman Kwidini on Wednesday. Residents who spoke to this publication said they were relieved that the Ministry of Health top officials were in their area to assess the situation. Gogo Shamhu said they have been in this situation since last year. “We are grateful for…

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Cancer Association of Zimbabwe Warns Against Oral Sex-Linked Cancer Risks

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) has cautioned young people against engaging in risky oral sex, warning that it increases the risk of transmitting the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) just like any unprotected sex activity, which causes cancer. This warning comes in the wake of research by global oncologists showing a rise in oral cancers linked to oral sex, particularly among individuals with multiple sexual partners in the United Kingdom and the United States. Since the mid-2000s, cases of oropharyngeal cancer, a specific type of oral cancer, have…

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Zimbabwean Government Urged to Be Proactive Amid Rising HMPV Cases in China

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following a surge in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in northern China, one of Zimbabwe’s leading public health experts has warned against complacency and urged the government to implement preventive measures promptly. Concerns are mounting as many draw parallels between the current HMPV outbreak and the early, grim days of COVID-19. Social media footage has shown overwhelmed medical facilities in China, with parents holding sick children in long queues outside pediatric care units, even late into the night.   Speaking to HealthTimes, Community Working Group on Health (CWGH)…

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