Category: MARTERNAL HEALTH

#BREAKING: Blood Demand To Go Up…As Blood Group O Reserves Run Dry

Healthtimes

AN unanticipated upsurge in blood demand is looming at the back of government’s recent move to slash the blood prices from $80 to $50 per unit at the beginning of this year. By Michael Gwarisa The development also comes at the back of a crisis whereby the Blood bank coffers are fast  running dry of blood group O amidst indications that not more than 52% of Zimbabwe’s population belong to that blood group. Briefing Journalists this morning, National Blood Services of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ms Lucy Marowa…

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#BREAKING: Public Health Bill finally gazetted

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By Daniel Phiri  THE much awaited Public Health Bill (PHB) that seeks among other things to replace the outdated Public Health Act enacted in 1924 has been gazetted and will soon be making its way to Parliament for First Reading.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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Parly to conduct public hearings on effects of contraceptives

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By Daniel Phiri PARLIAMENTARY Portfolio Committee on Woman Affairs, Gender and Community Development is set to hold public hearings to gather views on the alleged effects of family planning methods (Hormonal contraceptives). The public hearings which will be held in about eight towns (Lupane, Bulawayo, Mberengwa, Zvishavane, Masvingo, Chivhu, Bindura and Mazowe) across the country are scheduled to start from the 4th to 8th of December 2017. According to the Committee, “interested groups and organisations are invited to the consultations. The contributions made will be considered by the Portfolio Committee…

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USAID/PSZ Prevents Maternal and child deaths In Zimbabwe

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By Michael Gwarisa THE United States government’s partnership with Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ) has managed to avert not less than 814 maternal and 3,800 child deaths over the past five years. At an event marking the five year partnership between the organisations which celebrated five years of improving access to voluntary family planning information and services to poor undeserving populations in Zimbabwe, USAID Zimbabwe Acting Deputy Mission Director, Julie Nenon said, “…the US is proud to increase availability of diverse family planning options for Zimbabweans. “Enabling couples and individuals to…

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Five Maternal Deaths Recorded This Week

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  Ministry Of Health and Child Care  FIVE people succumbed to maternal mortality during the week ending 22 October 2017. The deaths were reported from Mpilo Central Hospital (2), Harare Central Hospital (1), Chitungwiza Central Hospital (1), Binga District Hospital in Matabeleland North Province (1) and Kwekwe District Hospital in Midlands Province (1). The cumulative figures for maternal deaths are 229  

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UNFPA making inroads in restoring ZNFPC’s former glory

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By Kudakwashe Pembere The United Nations Population Fund Zimbabwe (UNFPA) is making headways in returning the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council to its former glory using various initiatives, an official has said. This was said by UNFPA Zimbabwe assistant Ms Abbigail Msemburi during the launch of the SWOP findings on Wednesday(yesterday). Ms Msemburi went down through memory lane where ZNFPC was a regional family planning powerhouse, a status that went down the drain. “We hear a lot of what ZNFPC used to be like at about independence where it was…

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300 Zim women get fistula treatment

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By Kudakwashe Pembere Over 300 Zimbabwean women have received fistula repair surgery since inception in 2009, a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Zimbabwe) official said. Addressing media yesterday, UNFPA Zimbabwe Deputy Country Resident Mr Yu Yu said there is one centre offering this surgery. “In Zimbabwe UNFPA is leading the Campaign to End Obstetric Fistula through a collaborative effort with partners, Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA) and the Ministry of Health and Child Care. This journey began in 2009 with support to the Ministry to conduct an obstetric fistula…

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Zim Musing Upon 8 Antenatal visits for pregnant women

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By Kuda Pembere AT the borderline is Zimbabwe trying to consider adopting latest World Health Organisation’s antenatal care guidelines requiring eight antenatal contacts instead of four that the country is currently doing well with. In November last year, WHO recommended that a minimum of eight contacts for antenatal care can reduce perinatal deaths by up to 8 per 1000 births when compared to a minimum of four visits. Sharing findings in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) SWOP report on Wednesday (today), the organisation’s local Assistant Ms Abbigail Msemburi said…

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Govt Moots Banning Sale of Beer To Pregnant Women

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HealthTimes Reporter  IN  a move that is likely to get widespread resistance from women, Government has revived its bid to ban sale of alcohol to pregnant women.\ According to the SundayMail, the National Alcohol Policy has since received blessings from various line ministries and is set to be tabled in Cabinet anytime soon. The push to enforce a host of restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol follows Government’s concern over increasing cases of abuse of the “wise waters” countrywide. The policy is the brainchild of former Health Minister…

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Maternal deaths reach 176

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By Staff Reporter Over 170 expecting mothers died giving birth since the beginning of the year with teenagers being at high risk. In its weekly disease statistical update, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said there were two maternal deaths. “The Ministry of Health and Child Care weekly disease report has shown that two maternal deaths were reported during the week ending July 23, 2017. “The deaths were reported from Harare Central Hospital. The cumulative figures for maternal deaths are 176,” read the report. At high risk of maternal…

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