Category: HIV/AIDS

Zim’s Aids Levy charms Uganda

Healthtimes

By Staff Reporter Zimbabwe’s AIDS Levy has captivated Uganda which wants to copy the model as a way of coming up with own healthcare funding model. Realising the massive contributions made by mobile network operators to the fiscus, Zimbabwe instituted a 5% tax on all mobile data and call charges, which goes straight into the Aids Levy to help combat HIV/Aids. Uganda’s expression of copying Zimbabwe’s Aids Levy comes at a time when African nations are coming up with alternative healthcare funding models which are homegrown other than donor funding.…

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Traditional Leaders Driving Primary Health Care

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By Michael Gwarisa recently in Mapanzure TRADITIONAL leaders have always been key figures in the upholding of societal standards and effecting laws that guide and protect citizens since time immemorial. Under the African setup, traditional leaders in this case, chiefs, village headmen, district officers, Councillors among others play a pivotal role in determining the fate of their people. In Zimbabwe, traditional leaders hold key functions even at top political levels as the constitution of Zimbabwe recognises the role of traditional chiefs and leaders. It is through their influence that traditional…

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AIDS levy to fund cancer fight

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Shamiso Yikoniko Sundaimail At least 7 000 new cases of cancer are recorded every year in Zimbabwe, resulting in 1 500 deaths. Moreover, 60 percent of these cancers are associated with HIV. As a result, the National Aids Council began procuring cancer detection equipment and drugs in 2012 to diversify its measures to fight HIV and Aids. NAC monitoring and evaluation director Mr Amon Mpofu confirmed the development and said these will not be reserved for people living with HIV only. “The procured cancer equipment and drugs will be distributed…

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MSF Takes Sexual Reproductive Health To Schools…As More Students Test HIV positive

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By Michael Gwarisa INTERNATIONAL medical humanitarian organization Doctors without Borders (MSF), has embarked on a widespread Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) drive in schools starting with South Africa in an effort to reduce increased cases of HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancies in amongst students. In a statement, MSF South Africa urged the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Education and School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in South Africa to get rid of traditional barriers to healthcare and sexual health education so as to promote uptake of HIV prevention measures as well…

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More funding needed for HIV prevention- NAC

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By Michael Gwarisa FUNDING towards HIV prevention programs is insignificant as more resources are being channeled towards HIV treatment, a top National Aids Council (NAC) official has said. In an interview with HealthTimes news, NAC director operations Raymond Yekeye said funding HIV prevention was currently on the low and called on stakeholders to consider scaling up financing of prevention initiatives. “Currently, the country has limited funding for HIV prevention as the majority of the resources are being channeled towards treatment in order to ensure we keep those already on ART…

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Katswe launches anti AIDS campaign

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By Daniel Chigundu PRO-Women rights group Katswe Sistahood says it is launching the “Staying negative campaign” which is aimed at helping girls in marginalised areas protect themselves from HIV/AIDS and related diseases. The 30-day campaign which comes just a month before the commemoration of the Day of the African Child is also seeking to interrogate why HIV prevalence rate is higher for girls compared to the boy child. In a statement Katswe said there have been so many speeches about protecting girls adding that it was now it’s time for…

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U.S. to maintain HIV funding for Zimbabwe

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By Staff Reporter THE United States Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr says says his country will maintain, and even increase, HIV funding levels to Zimbabwe despite a change in administration. There were fears that the new American President Donald Trump would pull the plug on Zimbabwe, following announcement that his government was working on reducing international aid to various countries. Addressing journalists during a tour of the OK- PEPFAR First Street Stage during the just ended Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), Ambassador Thomas said international aid has not been…

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Zim Parliament Pushes For Traditional Medicines Adoption

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By Daniel Chigundu PARLIAMENTARY Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care chairperson Ruth Labode has called on the health ministry to consider organizing an Indaba to discuss the possibilities of adopting traditional medicine. The call comes at a time when Zimbabwe is battling a number of non curable diseases like Cancer, AIDS, Diabetes among a host of others which traditional leaders around the country claim to have solutions over. Making suggestions to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Honourable Labode said owing to a number of testimonies of…

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Government Endorse NAC Media Award

Healthtimes

By HealthTimes Editor  THE Government of Zimbabwe has thrown its weight behind the National Aids Council (NAC) Media awards in effort to to encourage positive reportage and coverage of AIDS related issues. Officiating at the inaugural NAC Media Awards in the capital this week,  Health and Child Care Minister  Hon David Parirenyatwa said the media was one of the key drivers of the widespread awareness and knowledge our people have about HIV and AIDS including the utilisation of prevention and treatment services. “I therefore would like to salute the editors…

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