Category: Health News

Safer, Shorter, And More Effective Treatment Discovered For Tb

Michael Gwarisa

· Breakthrough research presented at The Union World Conference for Lung Health includes new drug with potential to shorten and improve treatment for nearly all forms of TB; · Trial is underway for “universal regimen” for drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB; · New research suggests that rats are able to detect TB; · Pioneering battery-operated tests herald new opportunities for rapid diagnostic capabilities Paris; November 16th 2023: Researchers have announced a drug that has the potential to shorten and improve treatment for nearly all forms of TB, on the second day…

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Diarrheal infections force Mkoba Teachers’ College closure

Kuda Pembere

Health authorities in the Midlands province have shut down Mkoba Teachers’ College to contain the rising cases of diarrheal infections at the educational institution. The teacher’s college will be closed for two weeks. With the nation battling a cholera epidemic, there were fears that the diarrhea outbreak at the school was cholera. Having recorded over 500 cases since November 3 this year, the Ministry of Health and Child Care Provincial Medical Director for Midlands Dr Mary Muchekeza said of the tests to check if it was cholera, none turned positive.…

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ZDHS data collection on Friday

Kuda Pembere

The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) says data collection for the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) begins this Friday. By Kuda Pembere The data collection to be conducted across Zimbabwe’s ten provinces for the latest and much awaited national Demographic and Heath Survey (DHS) ends in April next year. This survey comes with new variables such as prevalence of anemia as well as Gender Based Violence amongst others. “In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC), the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency will be conducting the 2023…

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Zimbabwe’s Blood Bank to collect over 13,000 Blood Units during Festive Season

Michael Gwarisa

The National Blood Services of Zimbabwe (NBSZ), has set an ambitious target to collect 13,370 blood units during the upcoming festive season, at the back of innovative programs targeting existing and new blood donors. By Michael Gwarisa The festive season in Zimbabwe is largely associated with increased road accidents that result in high demand for blood and blood products. The Festive season also coincides with school closures and depressed blood collections since schools are the blood bank’s major blood collection sources. According to NBSZ, should they meet their festive season…

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Zim Government allays ICASA 2023 accomodation fears

Kuda Pembere

A senior Government official has rebuffed accommodation fears linked to the forthcoming edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) conference. By Kuda Pembere This reassurance comes amidst concerns that there would be a repeat of past experiences where delegates had to resort to other accommodation outside of the hotel. Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora told the media that it was all systems go. So far we are budgeting with people we have invited and those who have confirmed. Those who have confirmed…

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Working under the sun causes 1 in 3 deaths from non-melanoma skin cancer, say WHO and ILO

Michael Gwarisa

Nearly 1 in 3 deaths from non-melanoma skin cancer is caused by working under the sun, according to joint estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) published today. The research released in Environment International finds that outdoor workers carry a large and increasing burden of non-melanoma skin cancer and calls for action to prevent this serious workplace hazard and the loss of workers’ lives it causes. According to the joint estimates, 1.6 billion people of working age (15 years or older) were exposed to…

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Zim updates TB, Leprosy Guidelines

Healthtimes

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has released its updated Tuberculosis and leprosy management guidelines which comes with latest guidance on new diagnostics and shorter treatment regimens for TB. By Staff Reporter In this sixth edition, the Health and Child Care Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze said the pervious edition was done in 2016. “The focus of TB prevention, care and control is to detect all TB cases early, particularly the bacteriologically positive cases, and provide them with effective treatment in a patient-centred manner, so as to reduce…

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Health Ministry pledges support to CODEX activities

Kuda Pembere

The Zimbabwean government is committed proffer high level support as well as having national CODEX activities included in the national budget, a senior health and childcare ministry official said last Wednesday. By Kuda Pembere This was said at the CODEX Trust Fund 2 inception workshop by the Permanent Secretary in the Health and Childcare Ministry Dr Aspect Maunganidze in a speech read on his behalf by Government Analyst Laboratory Director Mr Livingstone Masiyambiri. Zimbabwe successfully applied for the CTF2 in 2021, and preparations have been underway to initiate its implementation.…

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One Health Reporting: Internews is recognized for its work with journalists

Healthtimes

By InterNews On October 14th, 2023 the Internews Health Journalism Network (HJN) received the prestigious One Health Award for its contribution to empowering journalists around the world with the tools and knowledge to cover health and science with a One Health multidisciplinary lens. The award, launched in 2022 by The Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise (IZS) in Italy, is a deliberate effort to mainstream One Health in the public discourse, and to emphasize that human health is intimately connected to animal health and to the health of our…

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Calls on 2024 budget to prioritize health sector

Healthtimes

The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) held the pre-budget meeting in Harare yesterday where calls were made by different stakeholders for the increase of the 2024 Health budget. By Nthokozo Gudu Hwange Central Legislator, Hon MP Daniel Molokele  who is also the Chairman of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health said it was crucial to allocate the 15 percent of the national budget to health as is prescribed by the Abuja target. The growing demand for health services in the country owing to the increase in population and structural changes…

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