Category: Op Ed

A special feature section for guest columnists

#TalkingCOVID-19WithDrGant: Zimbabweans, We Must Take The COVID-19 Pandemic Seriously, And Stop Looking For Reasons To Justify Complacency!

Healthtimes
Dr Grant Murewanhema

THE COVID-19 pandemic is  hitting hard on Zimbabwe, and growing very fast. All ten provinces in the country are reporting cases, and local transmission far outweighs imported disease. Community transmission implies many cases in society whose epidemiological origins are difficult to trace, with multiple unrelated clusters. By Dr Grant Murewanhema Human behavior is critical in controlling the epidemic. I find it unacceptable that there are still some individuals who justify complacency and lack of responsibility on their part. Its a known fact that Zimbabwe has resource limitations, and has limited…

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#TalkingCOVID-19WithDrGrant: Increasing Covid-19 Infections Among Healthcare Workers: A Serious Cause For Concern

Healthtimes
Dr Grant Murewanhema

THIS past week has seen the highest number of COVID-19 infections being reported in Zimbabwe. The figures have gone beyond 2400, with a tilt in the balance of cases towards more local than imported. Indeed, Zimbabwe is witnessing community transmission which has the potential to explode into a full-blown disaster in the following few weeks. Regrettably, fatalities from the disease have also gone up, and stand officially at 34. By Dr Grant Murewanhema Our healthcare system is extremely fragile at the moment, and continues to fall by the day. Nurses…

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Asthma In The Covid-19 Era

Healthtimes

THE outbreak of Covid-19 in late December 2019, in China and its subsequent spread to other countries saw people with underlying conditions facing a mammoth task. Among these underlying conditions or diseases is asthma. SOURCE: Ministry of Health and Child Care Zimbabwean asthma allergy and immunology specialist, Professor Elopy Sibanda, who owns the Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Clinic in Harare answers some of the pertinent questions that most people who suffer from asthma need to know and the precautions they should take. Professor Sibanda ruled out the notion that there…

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#EDITORIAL: COVID-19 Dead Bodies In Africa: Was Melinda Gates’s Predictions Correct?

Healthtimes

“Covid-19 will be horrible in the developing world. My heart is in Africa. I am worried. The only reason why the reported cases of the coronavirus disease in Africa is low now is most likely because there have not been wide testing of people. The disease is going to bite hard on the continent. I see dead bodies in the streets of Africa,” said Melinda Gates the Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in  a Televised interview on CNN in April this year. Following these “Controversial” utterances, Melinda…

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#TalkingCOVID-19WithDrGrant: Demanding Immediate Resuscitation Of The Public Health Sector In Zimbabwe: Whose Responsibility?

Healthtimes
Dr Grant Murewanhema

THE past four weeks have been particularly difficult for Zimbabwe. We have seen the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 rise from 2 digits to over 1400, and the deaths from the same going up to 25. There have been multiple but unverified reports of sudden deaths in communities, which could be due to COVID-19. Of course, people are still dying from other causes, but with a totally crippled health system and a grounded economy, there is no proper surveillance and auditing. Thus, the reasons why people are dying in…

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#HurukuroNaChiremba Grant: Kutekeshera Kwaita Chirwere CheCOVID-19 Munyika Kwakuda Kuti Titore Matanho Akazara Ekuzvidzivira

Healthtimes
Dr Grant Murewanhema

CHIRWERE cheCOVID-19 chakabatwa muvanhu kuChina muna Zvita 2019. Zvinofungidzirwa kuti chakatanga nekuda kwehunhu hwevanhu vekuChina hwekudya tupukanana twakasiyana-siyana. Mukudya uku ndomakabva hwaive hutachiwana hwemhuka uchiuya muvanhu. Hutachiwana uhwu hunonzi coronavirus asi chirwere chaunokonzera chakazopihwa zita rekuti COVID-19. Na Chiremba Grant Murewanhema Nekuda kwekufamba kwevanhu chirwere ichi chakapararira nekutekeshera nyika dzose dzepasi rose. Chakanyanyisa kukonzeresa bongozozo nekusagarika munyika dzinenge ana Spain, Italy nevaivembove vapambepfumi veZimbabwe, Great Britain zvekare ne America. Munyika idzi chakauraya chakapararira kuenda kuuwandu hwevanhu hwave kudarika mamirioni gumi nevaviri chikauraya zvekare vanhu vanodarika zviuru 500 nevanoraudzira. Vanhu vazhinji…

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Citizens Need To Assume Responsibility For Prevention As The COVID-19 Pandemic Hits Harder On Zimbabwe

Healthtimes
Dr Grant Murewanhema

ITS been six months since the COVID-19 was declared a global health pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) chief, and slightly over four months since it was declared a global pandemic. Today the number of infected people globally stands at an alarming 12.3 million with over 530 000 fatalities. Of course the greatest majority have been reported as recovered, and the outlook is starting to be reassuring in some countries. By Dr Grant Murewanhema However, some countries, notably the Americas, continue to be ravaged, recording several thousands of new…

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Shortage Of Blood Products: An Early Ticket To The Other World For Pregnant Women In Zimbabwe

Healthtimes
Young Preganant Women

WORLD over, an estimated 800 women die daily due to pregnancy related causes. The majority of these deaths occur in developing countries; the majority of which occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Zimbabwean has one of the highest mortality rates of around 463 per 100 000; this is an estimate from yesteryears and the current standing may be worse off. By Dr Grant Murewanehma The three direct leading causes of maternal death are infection (sepsis), hypertensive disorders and bleeding before, during or after childbirth, otherwise known as obstetric haemorrhage. Obstetric haemorrhage is…

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COVID-19 IN ZIMBABWE: WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE MOVING FORWARD?

Healthtimes
Dr Grant Murewanhema

ZIMBABWE witnessed its third spike of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, confirming 73 positive cases, and unfortunately also witnessed a facility death of a young female patient, aged 21, bringing the total number of officially reported deaths to 8. We should always note the careful choice of words, such as officially reported, and confirmed. By Dr Grant Murewanhema THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY So do we know the actual COVID-19 situation in Zimbabwe? How accurate are the numbers we report, and are we doing enough community testing? I…

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Global Wake-Up Call

Healthtimes

FROM COVID-19 to climate disruption, from racial injustice to rising inequalities, we are a world in turmoil. By António Guterres At the same time, we are an international community with an enduring vision – embodied in the United Nations Charter, which marks its 75th anniversary this year. That vision of a better future —  based on the values of equality, mutual respect and international cooperation —  has helped us to avoid a Third World War that would have had catastrophic consequences for life on our planet. Our shared challenge is…

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