Category: HIV/AIDS

#BREAKING: Public Health Bill finally gazetted

Healthtimes

By Daniel Phiri  THE much awaited Public Health Bill (PHB) that seeks among other things to replace the outdated Public Health Act enacted in 1924 has been gazetted and will soon be making its way to Parliament for First Reading. Although it has been designated as urgent, the Public Health Bill has faced a lot of delays along the way which include a shortage of staff at the Attorney General’s office coupled with other delays at the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) offices owing to unavailability of the…

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Let’s reflect on HIV/AIDS progress: AU

Healthtimes

By Daniel Phiri AFRICA Union says as people commemorate World Aids Day (WAD) it is imperative to note that access to universal health care is a fundamental human right. Most countries in Africa face a lot of challenges when it comes to the provision of universal access to health care owing to lack of adequate resources and poverty. This lack of access affects response to such diseases as HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria especially in rural areas where health facilities are dotted many kilometres from where people live. In a statement…

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AHF Zimbabwe puts 15 000 Zimbabweans on Free ART in just 1 year

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By Kudakwashe Pembere Originally from USA, a non-profit organisation which set base in Zimbabwe last year in September called Aids Healthcare Foundation has put over 16 000 Zimbabweans on free antiretroviral treatment. The organisation built centres of excellence which are treatment facilities for those with the disease at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare and Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo. Speaking to the press last Friday, AHF Zimbabwe Monitoring and Evaluation manager Brighton Murimira said there are about 16 000 people on free ART at their centres. “At Parirenyatwa we have 4 000…

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Initiate Every Prisoner On Prep Upon Sentencing

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By Michael Gwarisa THERE is a raging debate on whether prisoners should be allowed access to condoms during their incarceration period in order to prevent HIV transmission in among prison inmates. According to statistics, male prisons have an HIV prevalence rate of about 24 percent of which much of the infection is believed to be happening during their tenure in prisons as a result of sodomy activities. During a Parliamentary HIV awareness meeting in Kariba recently, elders and parliamentarians argued along the lines of having condoms distributed in prisons or…

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US Gov Avails US$85 000 For Community Based HIV initiatives

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By HealthTimes Reporter Community based organisations  working with people living with HIV/AIDS from around the country’s six provinces received grants worth $85 000 from the United States government.  Speaking at the signing ceremony on Friday, US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Jennifer Savage said these grants show US’ commitment to boost community initiatives that promote, self-funding sustaining development. “Each of these grants represents a partnership between the people of the United States and the people of Zimbabwe. Through these grants, we can support the work of Zimbabwean communities to assist…

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Oral Sex With 5 or More Partners Could Up Your Risk of HPV

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While oral sex has many, many upsides, it’s actually one of the most common ways human papillomavirus (HPV) is spread. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that can increase your chance of throat cancer, depending on which strain you contract. Now, further research shows that the risk of HPV is higher in men who regularly smoke cigarettes and have multiple sexual partners. A new study published in the Annals of Oncologylooked at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which had data from 13,089 people ages 20-69 who participated in it…

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Midlands Province Successfully Integrates Pediatric ART and Nutrition

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By Michael Gwarisa recently in Lower Gweru THE Midlands province has successfully integrated nutrition and paediatric Anti Retro Viral Therapy (ART) programs in a bid to reduce infant mortality as a result of HIV induced malnutrition, a health official has said. Briefing Journalists on the side-lines of a Save the children Nutrition Media Sensitisation Tour of Lower Gweru, Midlands Province District Medical Officer, Dr Shakespeare Mureyano said there was poor uptake of Pediatric ART in the area and as a result, opportunistic infections like diarrhea would attack children who are…

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Selfish MPs want pay rise, ignore critical HIV funding

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By Daniel Phiri LEGISLATORS have called on government to increase their salary perks to match that of ministers and the judiciary, at a time when the country is failing to adequately fund the response to HIV/Aids. Owing to alleged financial constraints, Zimbabwe which is spending US$3, 6 billion from its US$4 billion budget on salaries, has literally surrendered its health funding to development partners and donors. About 85 percent of national HIV/Aids response is catered for by development partners and donors, while Zimbabwe is accounting for a mere 15 percent…

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UNAIDS Calls To Quicken Action To End AIDS

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The President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, in collaboration with UNAIDS, brought together six heads of state or government to accelerate action and get countries on the Fast-Track to end AIDS. World leaders joined around 500 partners from government, the private sector and civil society on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to reinvigorate political leadership around HIV. The Fast-Track approach is saving more and more lives. In 2016, 19.5 million people—more than half the 36.7 million people living with HIV—were accessing life-saving treatment. The number of people who…

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Drug Resistant TB Treatment Efforts Under Threat says MSF

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By Michael Gwarisa Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) says limited access to to new drug delamanid reduces promising treatment options available for those with drug-resistant tuberculosis. According to MSF, almost three quarters (74%) of patients receiving a combination of these drugs for six months achieved ‘culture conversion’, an early indicator that treatment might ultimately be successful. “The WHO endorses delamanid to replace the injectable agent for children and adolescents with DR-TB in cases of intolerance or resistance to some drugs, giving this group an option that is more effective and…

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