Tag: Climate Change

WCOZ Hosts Indaba to Unpack Climate Change Management Bill

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCOZ) last week convened a high-level indaba in Harare to deliberate on the proposed Climate Change Management Bill, a piece of legislation that seeks to provide a comprehensive framework for Zimbabwe’s response to climate change. The gathering brought together civil society, legal experts, government stakeholders and grassroots representatives to scrutinise the bill with a particular focus on its gender implications. Speaking at the indaba, Caroline Mutimbanyoka said the coalition’s interest in the bill was rooted in the reality that women and girls…

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Zimbabwe Red Cross Marks World First Aid Day with Chinhoyi March, Competitions

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe – September 14, 2025 — The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) on Saturday joined the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in commemorating World First Aid Day with a colourful march and first aid competitions in Chinhoyi, under the theme “First Aid and Climate Change.” The commemorations, held at Chinhoyi High School, drew hundreds of participants including students, corporate teams, volunteers and community members. A spirited march through the town centre set the tone for the day, attracting onlookers and raising awareness on the…

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The Hidden Health Toll of Urban Heat: Africa’s Concrete Jungles and the Rise of Climate-Sensitive Diseases

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Africa is battling a number of adverse climatic catastrophes, and over the past five years, climate change is no longer a distant threat across the continent. In African cities, it has become an everyday reality, intensifying urban heat and deepening public health risks. Rising temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, and shrinking green spaces are combining to create “concrete jungles,” densely built environments where heat becomes trapped and air pollution festers. According to experts, this urban heat effect, worsened by poor ventilation and limited vegetation, is now driving a rise…

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Health Ministry Raises Alarm Over Surge in Malaria Cases and Deaths

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter The Ministry of Health and Child Care has expressed deep concern over a sharp rise in malaria cases recorded across the country during the first 17 weeks of 2025. More than 59,000 cases have been reported, compared to 21,309 during the same period in 2024. Malaria-related deaths have also risen significantly, increasing by 218% from 45 last year to 143 this year. The ministry attributes the surge to a combination of environmental and behavioural factors. The Ministry of Health and Child Care is deeply concerned about the…

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One Health and Climate: Dr. Onyango Speaks On Transforming Africa’s Health Resilience

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In 2024, African health ministers adopted a 10-year framework to build climate-resilient and sustainable health systems across the continent. This framework aims to guide World Health Organization (WHO) African region member states in translating global climate and health initiatives into concrete, actionable steps at the country level. For over a decade, the WHO has collaborated with member states and partners on policies and research initiatives to strengthen multisectoral efforts on health and environmental issues in Africa. These initiatives focus on creating strategies and frameworks that address the…

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Amref Puts A Spotlight On Widening Climate Change Induced Health Inequalities in Africa

Michael Gwarisa

“As dire as the situation is, financing for climate adaptation is only a drop in the ocean of what is needed. This scenario has been, and continues to be the reason why Africa is one of the most vulnerable continent.” By Michael Gwarisa As the world commemorates World Health Day, governments around the world are seized with addressing climate change challenges, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) data estimating that between 2030 and 2050, climate change will likely cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhoea…

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UNICEF Zimbabwe launches campaign on children and climate change

Kuda Pembere

By Staff Reporter UNICEF Zimbabwe has launched a communication campaign which seeks to involve children’s participation in climate change issues which are increasingly affecting them. The campaign also comes at a time when Zimbabwe is enduring an El-Nino induced drought. “The Climate Change Crisis is a Child Rights Crisis. Climate change is impacting the lives of children worldwide, also in Zimbabwe. “It creates scarcity in access to safe water and food, impacts on the health of children, increases children’s vulnerability to exploitation and abuse, and jeopardises their well-being, even threatening…

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Fragile Health Systems Expose Africa To Untold Climate Change Disasters Says AMREF

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa For a long time, discourse on climate change has revolved around the effects of Climate Change on the environment in particular air pollution, an issue most prevalent in the Global North. Very little focus was being given to the impact of climate change on the health and well-being of the human population. However, for the first time in many years, African health Ministers and their counterparts from around the world converged in Dubai for the COP28 where they delivered a strong message regarding the impact climate change…

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How Climate Change is Fueling a Mental Health Crisis in Urban Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

By Taurai Nyandoro If there are any global issues that have garnered and evoked increased attention in the past few years, it has to be climate change and mental health. A growing body of evidence points to the connection between climate change and mental health. In fact, there is a link between climate change and mental disorders, including fear, anxiety, stress, insomnia, depression, lost self-efficacy, mood disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Urban residents in Zimbabwe are not immune to the impacts of droughts, floods, and heatwaves. Unsurprisingly, these changes…

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Climate Actions need to be Child-Centered

Michael Gwarisa

Ahead of the COP27, Government of Zimbabwe and UNICEF hosted a high-level dialogue to take stock of the climate change challenges and concluded with a strong call for children to be at the heart of climate change strategies and actions. Harare, 31 October 2022 – Ahead of the (27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCC) COP27, which will be held from 6 to 18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), the Ministry of Environment, Tourism, Climate & Hospitality Industry and UNICEF…

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