Category: Op Ed

A special feature section for guest columnists

We can end AIDS, if we follow the proven path of progress

Healthtimes

By Sophia Mukasa Monico – UNAIDS Country Director, Zimbabwe The recently released UNAIDS Global AIDS Update Report “shows that there is a path that ends AIDS. Taking the path that ends AIDS ensures preparedness to address future pandemic challenges, and advance progress across the Sustainable Development Goals.  The data and real-world examples set out in this report make it clear what that path is. It is not a mystery. It is a political and financial choice. HIV responses succeed when they are anchored in strong political leadership to follow the…

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A Well-Resourced Health System Essential For Zimbabwe to Attain Reproductive Justice

Healthtimes

By Edinah Masiyiwa, Executive Director Women’s Action Group Attending a recent workshop organized by the Community Working Group on Health on “reproductive justice” reminded me how much the core values of reproductive justice are being violated in Zimbabwe and how much we need to protect girls and young women from injustice. The term reproductive justice has a history in feminist ideology and has three core values: the right to have a child, the right to not have a child, and the right to parent a child or children in safe…

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Five reasons why the next pandemic could come from bats

Michael Gwarisa

Viruses that jump from animals to humans are the likely sources of major health threats, say scientists, and bats are the number one suspect. By Priya Joi Viruses that spill over from bats to humans have caused some of the world’s deadliest outbreaks. The latest COVID-19 pandemic is potentially just one example, as a virus related to coronaviruses in bats. A new Reuters special report reveals how the onwards march of industrial development means we are constantly encroaching into bat habitats, massively increasing the risk of another global pandemic. Widespread…

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Predictive Science: the frontier in healthcare

Healthtimes

By Retlaw Matatu Matorwa Cholera has been a major public health concern in Zimbabwe for decades. Despite various efforts to stem the tide of the disease, outbreaks continue to occur, posing a threat to people’s health and economic development. However, recent advancements in predictive science have begun to offer hope in the fight against diseases such as Cholera and Malaria to mention, but a few, demonstrating how new analytical techniques and methodologies can be utilized to prevent or reduce the spread of disease. Predictive science has the advantage of gathering…

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Rare Diseases – Facing Challenges with Limited Access to Medication

Healthtimes

By:Retlaw Matatu Matorwa Zimbabwe, like many Sub-Saharan African countries has been grappling with the challenge of rare diseases. Rare diseases are classified as any disease that affects fewer than 5 in 10,000 people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are over 7,000 rare diseases, and they are often chronic, progressive, and life-threatening. There are many challenges in diagnosing and managing rare diseases, with limited access to medication and lack of knowledge by medical professionals on how to manage them, being the main obstacles. Zimbabwe has a high burden…

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Recognition and support for village health workers in Zimbabwe: Panacea to ensure the success of primary health care and universal health coverage

Healthtimes

By: Enock Musungwini, MPH, MBA The Zimbabwe Village Health Worker programme began in the 1980s, soon after independence, with the aim of enhancing access to primary health care (PHC) services in line with the then Alma Ata Declaration (1978) and now the Astana Declaration (2018) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC 2030). According to the World Health Organisation, “primary health care is a whole-of-society approach to health that aims at ensuring the highest possible level of health and well-being and their equitable distribution by focusing on people’s needs and as early…

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There Is No Better Way To Start Your Day Than To Start With An Orgasm

Healthtimes

Have you ever noticed how agitated and militant people can be when they are sexually frustrated? It’s like they are always to fight and in a perennial defensive mode. Sexual frustration is described a state of irritation, agitation, or stress resulting from sexual inactivity or dissatisfaction. It is a common, natural feeling, and can affect anyone. According to Medical News Today, Sexual frustration is a natural response that many people experience at one time or another. It refers to an imbalance between a person’s sexual desires and their reality. Some…

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Demystifying safe abortion: Getting the FACTS right!

Healthtimes

By Memory Pamella Kadau The issue of abortion is often sensitive and divisive. It separates opinions, and this is mostly due to ignorance of the facts surrounding this subject. This article looks at some of the popular MYTHS surrounding abortion and sets out the FACTS as part of enriching debate on the topic. In doing so, the article will pose a question and then highlight a popular myth which and will then counter with factual information from science and practice. What is abortion? Myth: There is tendency by anti-abortionists that…

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International Year of Millets: a global opportunity to direct policy attention to the nutritional and health benefits of millets

Healthtimes

By Patrice Talla – FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative in Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Lesotho. This year we are celebrating the International Year of Millets. The year was endorsed by Members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its Governing Bodies and declared at the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in March 2021. FAO is the Agency taking the lead in celebrating this year. The focus on Millets could not be timelier. They offer valuable solutions in the face of…

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Nestlé Recipes for your family

Healthtimes

Today’s generation has grown up in restaurants and fast-food canteens and the tradition of cooking healthy nutritious meals together slowly starts to disappear. Although the fast-food route might seem convenient, it comes at a price. Restaurant meals and fast foods are usually high in saturated fats, salt and artery clogging-cholesterol. But you can spare yourself from all these with smart home cooking habits and recipes. Preparing and eating meals at home is a better choice for many reasons. Several studies have shown that people who cook more often, instead of…

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