Category: MARTERNAL HEALTH

Blow For Pregnant Women: As Pare Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Suspend Services After Several Colleagues Test Positive For COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

SENIOR Resident Medical Officers (SRMOS) doing Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Parirenyatwa Hospital have indicated that they won’t be able to continue offering services following indications that majority of Obstetricians and Gynecologists operating in the maternity wards have tested positive for the COVID-19. By Michael Gwarisa In a communication Parirenyatwa Hospital Clinical Director Dr Maunganide and Dr Mhlanga the head of Department Obstetrics and Gynaecobgy, the doctors said continuing with their duties was tantamount to a death sentence as majority of their colleagues in the maternity wards had either tested positive…

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Zim Reports Steady Improvement In Uptake of Maternal, Reproductive & Adolescents Health Services Under Lockdown

Healthtimes

THE ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) says there has been a steady improvement in the uptake of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) for the first time since the national lockdown was effected in March this year. HealthTimes Reporter According to the health ministry, there was a decline in the utilization of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) services such as family planning, antenatal care, postnatal care and other reproductive health services, particularly in the month of April 2020. The decline was due to challenges…

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Zim Performs First C-Section On Covid-19 Positive Woman

Michael Gwarisa

A local obstetrician who is also a lecturer in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Midlands State University (MSU), Dr Johannes Mukwembi has conducted Zimbabwe’s first cesarean section on a COVID-19 pregnant woman in Gweru. By Michael Gwarisa The lady, a returnee from South Africa, was the first COVID-19 case to be reported in Gweru and the Midlands province last week while residing at Mkoba quarantine centre. In a letter directed to the Midlands State University (MSU)Executive Dean, Faculty Of Medicine in the faculty of medicine, Dr Reginald…

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Maternal & Newborn Care In The time of COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

MATERNAL health needs should be prioritized and safeguarded at all cost in the face of a pandemic, USAID maternal, newborn and child health program (MCHIP) Director, Dr Koki Agarwal has said. By Michael Gwarisa Dr Agarwal said despite the ongoing ravaging pandemic, maternal health needs have not gone away, instead they have increased. Now more than ever, the health needs of women must be safeguarded. In the three decades that I’ve worked to ensure high-quality, equitable health care for women and their children across the globe, this fact holds true: The…

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UNFPA Urges Zim To Scale Up Fight Against Teen Pregnancies

Michael Gwarisa
Young Preganant Women

VISITING United Nations Population Fund East and Southern Africa (UNFPA-ESARO) regional Director, Dr Julitta Onabanjo has applauded Zimbabwe’s health institutions for successfully integrating sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services a move she says would go a long in way in responding to the unfinished business regarding access to quality health services. By Michael Gwarisa Dr Obananjo came into the country last week for the 6th edition of the Africaan Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) summit and she also took time to tour health facilities in Bulawayo and Matebelalnd province.  Speaking to…

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Sudan: Lives of traumatized, displaced women in West Darfur under threat

Healthtimes

ONGOING instability in Sudan’s West Darfur region has left the lives, health and safety of thousands of women hanging in the balance, according to the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA. Since 28 December, intercommunal disputes in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) have left more than 40,000 civilians displaced, of whom an estimated 10,800, are women of reproductive age. More than 50 were killed and 60 others injured, the UN has reported, and thousands of civilians in recent weeks crossed the border into Chad, seeking refuge. Citing two flash reports…

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Hospital User Fees Go Up

Michael Gwarisa

PERMANENT Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Agness Mahomva has announced the new government hospital tariffs effective January 1, 2020. By Michael Gwarisa The move comes at the back of run away inflation which has eroded the local currency’s value, making it impossible for government to procure hospital sundries and equipment as well as sustain operations. In a statement, Dr Mahomva said the move was reached after taking into consideration the plight of the general populace, as well as the inflationary environment currently prevailing. “The…

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Gendered Corruption In Health Sector, Women Bear The Brunt

Michael Gwarisa

HEALTH sector corruption has over the years been swept under the carpet and in most cases, citizens tend to turn a blind eye to its existence. By Michael Gwarisa However, evidence gathered by the Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) indicate that health sector corruption  comes in different facets and is an everyday occurrence and affects women the most. Corruption is defined by Transparency International as the “Misuse of entrusted power for private gain.” Corruption in most cases occur when public officials who have been given authority and a goal which further…

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UNESCO In Regional Drive To Curb Early Unintended Pregnancies

Michael Gwarisa
Mr Masimba Nyamucheta UNESCO

THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has embarked on a campaign to reduce cases of Early Unintended Pregnancies (EUPs) in Zimbabwe and other sub-Saharan countries, a move that is set to empower adolescent girls and young people to make informed decisions about their Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH). By Michael Gwarisa in Mazowe Through a partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) and Save The Children, UNESCO has already kick-started various media engagements initiatives at a regional…

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Zim Progresses In Putting Abortion Act On National Agenda

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE is amongst  a few countries on the African continent which have made strides in discussing about the need to have a progressive Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP) at a national level, a sign the country is warming up to the need of having an abortion friendly law, a sexual reproductive health official has said. By Michael Gwarisa At least 14 countries are having dialogue on the issue of Termination of Pregnancy but Zimbabwe seem to have moved a step further as compared to other countries which are currently at…

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