Category: Health News

Zimbabwean Innovators Win Cimas Healthathon with Epilepsy Monitoring App

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Two young Zimbabweans have embarked on a mission to transform the nation’s healthcare landscape with a new digital tool, the Epi App. The innovation aims to provide real-time monitoring for epilepsy patients, potentially reducing the life-altering risks associated with the disorder. The mobile application, developed by Munashe Dube, a Bioengineering student at the University of Zimbabwe, and Lincoln Casette, an Electronics Engineering graduate from the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT), took the spotlight as the grand prize winner at the 2024 Cimas Healthathon. Epilepsy, a neurological disorder…

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Old Mutual Boosts Mater Dei Hospital with State-of-the-Art Operating Room Equipment Donation

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  Old Mutual Boosts Mater Dei Hospital with State-of-the-Art Operating Room Equipment Donatio Bulawayo, Zimbabwe — In a significant contribution to healthcare in Zimbabwe, Old Mutual Zimbabwe has donated advanced operating room equipment to Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo, enhancing the hospital’s capacity to deliver essential surgical care. This donation aligns with the National Health Strategy (2021-2025) and represents a pivotal step in strengthening healthcare infrastructure. Lillian Mbayiwa, Marketing, Public Affairs & Sustainability Executive at Old Mutual Zimbabwe, emphasized the company’s commitment to community impact. “As Old Mutual,…

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One Health and Climate: Dr. Onyango Speaks On Transforming Africa’s Health Resilience

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In 2024, African health ministers adopted a 10-year framework to build climate-resilient and sustainable health systems across the continent. This framework aims to guide World Health Organization (WHO) African region member states in translating global climate and health initiatives into concrete, actionable steps at the country level. For over a decade, the WHO has collaborated with member states and partners on policies and research initiatives to strengthen multisectoral efforts on health and environmental issues in Africa. These initiatives focus on creating strategies and frameworks that address the…

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Inaugural Climate and Health Conference Rallies Africa To Take Action Against Climate-Induced Health Threats

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Although Africa contributes less than 4% of global carbon dioxide emissions, it faces some of the harshest impacts of climate change on health and the environment, leaders at the inaugural Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC2024) have stated. Public health data shows that Africa is experiencing numerous climate-linked health hazards more than other regions in the world. This largely has to do with an already weakened health system and the absence of reliable early warning systems amongst a host of other factors. According to the World Health…

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Merck Foundation awards 20 more scholarships to Zimbabwean doctors

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere in Dar Es Salaam The Merck Foundation says it awarded an additional twenty scholarships to Zimbabwean doctors bringing the total number of recipients to more than 122 over the past 12 months. This was revealed by Zimbabwe’s First Lady Dr Auxilia Mnangagwa in her keynote speech, in Dar-Es-Salaam on Tuesday at the Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary. Through our long-term partnership and as the ambassador of Merck Foundation More than a Woman, we have provided more than 122 scholarships of one-year diploma and two-year Masters’ degree to young…

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Zimbabwe’s Zvandiri HIV Care Model Helps Bend HIV Trajectory in Africa’s Children

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Zvandiri model, a peer-led program focused on children, adolescents, and young adults living with HIV aged 0-24, was launched in Zimbabwe 2o years ago mainly as a vehicle to increase and improve access to treatment and care for children and young persons living with HIV. The model Zvandiri is implemented by young people aged 18 to 24  known as Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters (CATS). They are trained and mentored to support their peers throughout the HIV care continuum through support groups, home visits, phone call reminders,…

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UNDP Hands Over 450 kilowatt Solar System To NatPharm

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere UNDP Zimbabwe has handed over solar power equipment to the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) worth US$500 000 to help boost the cold chain supply system in the country. Speaking at the handover of the equipment purchased by the Global Fund against AIDS, TB and Malaria, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora commended the partners for the timely intervention coming amidst electricity challenges bedevilling the country. This occasion marks a crucial step in our country’s ongoing journey towards building resilient and sustainable health systems. Today’s launch…

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NAC’s HIV symposium spotlights children

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The National HIV Symposium kicked off on a high note with the focus hinged on pediatric and adolescent HIV issues bedeviling Zimbabwe. The symposium organized by the National AIDS Council was themed “Accelerating 95-95-95 HIV Targets Among Children”. Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora in a speech read on his behalf by Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals chief medical officer Dr Tsitsi Magure said the much-yearned goal to end AIDS by 2030 is an impossible feat if children’s treatment coverage lags behind. “Our national response can…

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#BREAKING: Zimbabwe High Court Outlaws Demolition Of Houses

Healthtimes

By Staff Reporter THE High Court has frowned upon the unlawful and pervasive practice of local authorities in demolishing residential properties across the country and criticised the impugned legislation, which they had abused for several years, to arbitrarily demolish houses and evict people, as having outlived its usefulness. In a written judgment handed down on 16 October 2024, High Court Judge Justice Never Katiyo adjudged that the provisions of section 32 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act and section 37 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act,…

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Pink October- PSMAS joins anti-cancer drive

Michael Gwarisa

By Health Reporter Through its Premier Lifestyle programme, Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) intensified its anti-cancer drive this October in commemoration of the BreastCancer Awareness Month. This drive has so far seen hundreds of members from Bulawayo, Manicaland and Mashonaland Central provinces receiving health education on breast cancer prevention including self-breast examinations. On top of the breast cancer awareness, PSMAS is also raising awareness and conducting screening for  cervical and prostate cancer among other conditions. October is dedicated to raising awareness around Breast cancer. According to Global Cancer Observatory,…

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