Category: Health News

Germany’s Air-tube System company Aerocom keen on working with Zim hospitals

Kuda Pembere

A Germany headquartered company Aerocom, a leading global designer of pneumatic tube systems which reduces the turnaround time of samples between the laboratory and hospitals, anticipates to have its systems in Zimbabwe  next year. By Kuda Pembere Often called an AirTube System, it is a means of transporting a small payload, typically up to 5kg maximum, within a carrier which is moved within a tube between different locations by air. At a time when the majority of hospitals rely on porters to move samples from the nurse who would have…

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President Mnangagwa Should Declare Cholera a National Disaster

Michael Gwarisa

PUBLIC Health expert and Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike has called on President Emerson Mnganagwa to act swiftly and declare the prevailing Cholera outbreak a National Disaster before the health situation gets out of hand. By Michael Gwarisa His call comes in the midst of numerous Cholera cases that have been recorded and confirmed mostly in rural areas across the country with Buhera District in Manicaland province being the hardest hit. In an interview with HealthTimes, Mr Rusike said the situation on the ground…

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Zimbabwe Blows ZW$12 Billion To Pay For J&J COVID-19 Vaccines That Were Never Used

Kuda Pembere

DESPITE failing to roll-out the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 Vaccines citing cold-chain  issues, the Zimbabwean government reportedly paid an amount to the tune of ZW$12 Billion  for the J&J doses in 2021. With the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) exchange rate of December 2020 stating US$1 to ZWL$82, this would amount to about US$147 million. By Kudakwashe Pembere The COVID-19 vaccination drive in Zimbabwe commenced in February 2021 to contain the disease. However, Dr Agnes Mahomva who was the COVID-19 Coordinator in the Office of the President and Cabinet…

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A Mother’s Unwavering Commitment: Ryan’s first Polio Vaccination

Healthtimes

What seemingly started like an ordinary morning for Whyy Mutumbunzou (21), with her routine house chores, including caring for her only child, 1-year-old Ryan, took an unexpected and thrilling turn. A radio broadcast message from the MoHCC encouraging all mothers and caregivers to bring their children under five years for the 4th round of the Polio vaccination campaign. By Own Correspondent Despite not knowing what Polio was, Whyy enthusiastically gathered her belongings and walked briskly with her son to the nearest clinic, Hatcliff Family Health Services. For Whyy, the choice…

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Zim First Lady lauds Merck Foundation scholarships covering the underserved medical specialties gap

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere recently in Mumbai, India Over 100 scholarships to study in the underserved medical specialties such as fertility, embryology, respiratory medicine, oncology amongst others have been availed to Zimbabwean doctors under the Merck Foundation scholarship program, Zimbabwe’s First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa said. She said this during a Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary last week in Mumbai, India. This is for the first time in Zimbabwe that we work on such an impactful program, it is history in the making. Through our long term partnership and as the ambassador…

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Zim activates contigency plan for climate hazards

Kuda Pembere

The Zimbabwean Government last week set in motion its National Contigency Plan to help it counter climate hazards before reaching peak levels to prevent the loss of life and people’s livelihoods. By Kudakwashe Pembere Responding to questions from legislators last week, Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare Minister, Cde July Moyo, said the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) activated a contingency plan to tackle harsh weather impacts on people. We have a contingency plan, which is drawn and led by the Civil Protection Unit in the Ministry of Local Government. Every…

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“Report when Doctors Refer You To Their Private Surgeries” Says Minister Of Health

Healthtimes

The Minister of Health and Childcare, Dr Douglas Mombershora has told parliament that patients must report to him when you there are reffered to private practices from government hospital. By Takunda Mandura Responding to a question by Hon Getrude Mutandi during questions and answers session What is the Government policy on medical doctors who refer patients to their private surgeries? For example, expecting mothers are referred to their private surgeries when in actual fact, medical assistance can be rendered at Government hospitals,” said Hon Mutandi . Dr Mombershora assured the…

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NAC Hosts Annual Research Symposium 2023

Healthtimes

The National Aids Council (NAC) recently hosted a conference on HIV Research Symposium to deliberate on new data and development around the National HIV response. By Ntokozo Gudu The symposium was hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) ,University of Zimbabwe(UZ), Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS (CeSHHAR) and BRTI as ran under the theme “Living and Ageing with HIV-Rethinking and Pioneering Interventions Towards Ending AIDS and Improving Quality of Life.” The conference brought together multidisciplinary health practitioners including the private and public health sector.…

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Cholera Spreads like Veld Fire in Zimbabwe’s Rural Communities

Michael Gwarisa

WHILE previous Cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe were recorded in urban areas where there is poor water and sanitation services, the obtaining Cholera outbreak seem to be spreading fast in rural communities. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe reported its first Cholera case in February this year in Chegutu before the outbreak spread to the country’s 10 provinces. The outbreak at some point subsided, only to resurface in Buhera, Manicaland province, where majority of those dying and contracting the diseases are white garment sect members according to government. As of October, 20 2023,…

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Cholera Kills More Apostolic Sects Members In Buhera

Michael Gwarisa

Majority of people who have died during the ongoing Cholera outbreak in Buhera District, Manicaland province, are members of white garment apostolic sects who attended a funeral of their fellow member where they probably consumed contaminated food and water, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa Since August, more people from white garment sects, especially those that forbid their members from seeking healthcare services have succumbed to the disease. Manicaland had recorded over 2350 cholera cases and 83 deaths as at 13 October with 40 new cases and one death recorded…

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