Tag: COVID-19

#JUSTIN: Gov Opens Inter City Travel, VID, Registrar and Passport Office

Michael Gwarisa

CABINET has announced the resumption of inter city travel among other transport related services in a bid to cope with the reopening of schools. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing journalists during a post cabinet media briefing, Information minister, minister Monica Mutsvagwa invited transporters wishing to operate to register with government ahead the reopening of schools. In view of the re-opening of schools for examination classes, the tourism and hospitality industry, and aviation sectors and the need to afford the working class time to attend gymnasia, Cabinet approved the extension of business…

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UZ Commences Production Of Swabs For Collecting COVID-19 Samples

Michael Gwarisa

THE university of Zimbabwe (UZ) in partnership with a local company have begun manufacturing swabs which will used in collecting COVID-19 samples as the country moves towards increasing testing levels. By Michael Gwarisa In media brief, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa said the swabs have been submitted to the Ministry of Health and Child Care and to Natpharm for quality assurance tests. Additionally, Government continues to make strides in ensuring that the country’s preparedness and response plans are upgraded. As part of the efforts to boost…

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Disabled Young People Struggle To Navigate SRH Social Spaces During Lockdown

Michael Gwarisa

YOUNG people with disabilities are finding it difficult to access sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services during the prevailing lockdown period due to a myriad of factors, chief among them being failure to participate in social spaces where SRHR information is provided. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual meeting on ending teenage pregnancies which was hosted by Plan International Zimbabwe under the theme “Unraveling the thread of teenage pregnancies during COVID 19,” Social Worker with JF Kapnek, Adam Mukushi said the COVID-19 had presented numerous challenges for…

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COVID-19 Shuts Door To Infertile Women Seeking IVF Services In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

MAJORITY of women seeking In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) services could not be assisted during the COVID-19 induced lockdown restrictions despite the fact that many could be racing against their biological clock. By Michael Gwarisa In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility or prevent genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. In an interview with HealthTimes, Mwanachipo Africa Trust (MAT) Board Chairperson, Mr Heaven Munyuki said…

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#TalkingCOVID19WithDrGrant: Complacency Will Be Our Biggest Enemy In The Fight Against Covid-19

Healthtimes
Dr Grant Murewanhema

FOR almost nine months now, Zimbabwe has been battling the COVID-19 outbreak, which unfortunately has brought unprecedented changes to our way of life. As a country, Zimbabwe has by and large been spared of major epidemics in the past, and the COVID-19 pandemic presents the first real challenge to the country. By Dr Grant Murewanhema The previous SARS and MERS outbreaks relatively spared most of Africa, Zimbabwe included, and the Ebola Viral Disease outbreaks of West Africa also spared Southern Africa. Not surprisingly, the idea of quarantine, isolation and lockdowns…

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Zim Traditional Medicines Practitioners Applaud Gvt For Engaging Them In COVID-19 Fight

Michael Gwarisa

TRADITIONAL medicines practitioners have applauded government and the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) for recognizing their role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic which has wreaked havoc across the country’s 10 provinces. By Michael Gwarisa This also comes at a time the world is celebrating the African Traditional Medicines day which is commemorated every on the first of September. In an interview with HealthTimes, Zimbabwe National Practitioners Association (ZINPA) president, Mr Friday Chishanyu said traditional medicines practitioners deserve recognition and assistance from government. We are happy that…

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Provide Food Basket Instead To Avert COVID-19 Induced Malnutrition- Gvt Told

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Civil Society Organisations Scaling Up Nutrition (ZCSOSUNA) has called on government to  replace the current ZW$200 food assistance cash transfer assistance being given to vulnerable households with a nutritious food basket  in a bit to avert a spike in Severe Acute Malnutrition cases. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing Journalists this morning, ZCSOSUNA National Coordinator, Mr Kudakwashe Zombe said food and nutrition assistance need to be at the heart of social protection programmes especially under the prevailing environment where revenue streams have been disrupted at the back of lockdown restrictions.…

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TREATS tuberculosis (TB) study launches COVID-19 study using existing mobile TB testing facilities in Zambia

Healthtimes

A major TB study currently underway and aimed at investigating methods to reduce TB prevalence and infection in Zambia and South Africa will soon begin testing for COVID-19 using existing mobile TB testing facilities in the Bwacha – Ngungu community of Kabwe in Zambia. HealthTimes Reporter The 18-month study will be nested within the ongoing TREATS study to measure the prevalence and spread of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) in Zambia working with one urban community with a target population of 28,000. The country has recorded 11,345 confirmed cases with 282 COVID-19 deaths (classified…

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Retesting No Longer Required Before Discharging COVID-19 Patient- New Guidelines

Healthtimes

ACCORDING to new Centres for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, there is no longer need for health institutions to retest COVID-19 patients to determine whether they have recovered from the virus or not. The new guidelines  based on revisions made on July 17, 2020  state that “except for rare situations, a test-based strategy is no longer recommended to determine when an individual with a COVID-19 infection is no longer infectious (i.e., to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions or home isolation).” Diagnostic testing categories have been edited to focus on testing considerations and actions…

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