Category: Health News

Zimbabwe’s Goal to End AIDS Is So Close. Why Are Health Experts Worried?

Healthtimes

By Gamuchirai Masiyiwa, Global Press Journal Zimbabwe HARARE, ZIMBABWE — Precious rarely takes her medication in public. If she must, she keeps the pills in an unmarked case and discreetly opens it inside her handbag before taking the medication. Even at home in Mabvuku, a suburb east of Harare, Precious makes sure the pills remain in her secret place — the unmarked case. The 31-year-old has her reasons. In 2004, Precious, who asked to use her middle name for fear of stigma, was diagnosed with HIV. She was put on…

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Fragile Health Systems Expose Africa To Untold Climate Change Disasters Says AMREF

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa For a long time, discourse on climate change has revolved around the effects of Climate Change on the environment in particular air pollution, an issue most prevalent in the Global North. Very little focus was being given to the impact of climate change on the health and well-being of the human population. However, for the first time in many years, African health Ministers and their counterparts from around the world converged in Dubai for the COP28 where they delivered a strong message regarding the impact climate change…

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Africa must rope in private sector in funding HIV Programs

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere With the discourse on funding for HIV programs being dominated by the Government and donor partners, a leading Malawian researcher says involving players is critical through innovative means such as taxes and levies. While countries such as Zimbabwe came up with the innovative AIDS levy, it has been an envy of many African countries. Professor Ann Maureen Phoya while addressing the media at an ICASA press conference Wednesday said the private sector should be roped in the HIV response financing. “We also need to raise money through…

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African countries urged to prioritise Advanced HIV data and diagnostics

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere African governments must address the emerging saddening trends of advanced HIV where people are still dying due to lack of diagnostics and data driven policies. Addressing the media during a plenary press conference on Advanced HIV, HEPS Uganda Executive Director Mr Kenneth Mwehonge said apart from TB being a comorbidity killing people living with HIV, Cryptococcal meningitis is a threat that needs to be nipped. “One, I wanted to start with the number of dead, and it’s very, very sad that we have 30 million people on…

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Protect your youths online, African Governments told

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere African governments have been urged to come up with laws and regulations that guarantee the security of youth while using the internet and social media platforms. Speaking at the ICASA Conference, Mr Alan Maleche from the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV, he said one of the concerns raised by African youth was that of data privacy and security from health care workers alongside online platforms. “Is there anyone else who’s having access to that data? And if they are, what should happen? Because many…

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Curtain comes down on #ICASA2023

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere and Michael Gwarisa The 22nd edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) ended on Saturday with calls to step up support for communities of people living with HIV for the elimination of the pandemic by 2030 being made. Speaking on behalf of Zimbabwe’s Vice President Dr Constantine Chiwenga, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Fredrick Shava said it was important to put communities at the fore in HIV responses. “I am particularly encouraged by the emphasis placed on strengthening community engagement and…

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Mpilo HIV Centre of Excellence doctor wins ICASA Award

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere MPILO Hospital AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Centre of Excellence medical doctor Dr Nkazimulo Tshumo’s research on causes and clinical determinants of deaths among people living with HIV at her hospital earned her a Track B award for the best abstract. Her research, an analysis of Causes and Clinical Determinants of Mortality among People Living with HIV at Mpilo Centre of Excellence in Bulawayo, in Zimbabwe won the Track B focusing on Clinical Science, Treatment and Care. She said the majority of deaths at her facility were people…

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Zim research on ART differentiated service delivery model research wins ICASA award

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Dr Clorata Gwanzura, a government medical doctor working with the National HIV Program, Care and Treatment was conferred an award for the best oral presentation for the ICASA track E which focused on innovations and research settings. In an interview, Dr Gwanzura said her research was focusing on monitoring and evaluation systems fofr Differentiated Dervice Delivery for ART in Zimbabwe which are models Zimbabwe use to give people living with HIV their medication. These models have been effective in improving HIV treatment coverage in the country. “So…

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ARASA unveils 2033 Health and Rights report

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to uncover and address the shrinking civil space and funding gaps for Sexual Reproductive health, HIV, and Tuberculosis programming in the Southern African regional, ARASA has launched it’s 2033 Health and Rights report. The report was launched this week on the sidelines of the 22nd Edition of the International Conference on Aids and STIs in Africa (ICASA). ARASA director, Dr. Ntombi Muchuchuti said the report was in synch with the ICASA theme for 2023, Let Communities Lead. “The report is an analysis and assessment…

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Advancements in Anti-Retroviral Therapy: A Paradigm Shift Towards Enhanced Safety in HIV Management

Kuda Pembere

Dr. Tadesse T. Mekonen Executive: Clinical Research and Development, Avacare Health Group This paper examines the transformative developments in HIV therapy, focusing on the evolution of anti-retroviral agents (ARVs) over the past four decades. It particularly highlights the transition from Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) to Tenofovir Alafenamide Fumarate (TAF) in the context of enhanced safety benefits. Since the initial identification of HIV as a global health crisis, considerable progress has been made in the realm of ARVs. The primary goal of these therapeutic agents is to suppress viral replication, thus…

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