Tag: COVID-19

Zim Citizens Warned against Complacency….As New Delta Sub-Variant Wreaks Havoc

Michael Gwarisa

NEW coronavirus strains including a Delta variant sub-strain are already giving the world headaches, amidst indications that countries such as Russia and United Kingdom and even China have started recording record high death tolls and new infections linked to new strains. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Russian federal agency inspecting consumer rights protection and human wellbeing, several cases of AY.4.2, a new Delta sub-variant of coronavirus were already being detected. A report by Russia’s coronavirus emergency task force, indicates that the COVID-19 cases went up by 36,339 over the…

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Football champion Didier Drogba appointed WHO Ambassador for Sports and Health

Michael Gwarisa

FOOTBALL  legend Didier Drogba was today announced as the World Health Organization’s Goodwill Ambassador for Sport and Health. Drogba, from Côte d’Ivoire, will support WHO to promote the Organization’s guidance on the benefits of physical activity and other healthy lifestyles, and highlight the value of sports, particularly for youth. HealthTimes Reporter Mr Drogba, well known for his football career at Chelsea and as a two-time African Footballer of the Year (2006 and 2009), has a long track record of participating in various health campaigns such as healthy lifestyles, anti-malaria and HIV…

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Restart Whole Vaccination Process, COVAXIN Recipients Told

Healthtimes

THE COVID-19 Chief Coordinator in the President’s Office, Dr Agness Mahomva has urged Zimbabweans who received their first jabs of COVAXIN vaccine but failed to get their second doses to start afresh with a different one. By Patricia Mashiri She made this plea following indications that thousands of people who received their first doses of the COVAXIN vaccine in May and June when Zimbabwe received its shipment of 35,000 doses from India are yet to get their second jabs five months down the line. Speaking during a Science Cafe, Dr…

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People living with HIV at higher risk of COVID-19 illness but have lower access to COVID-19 vaccines

Michael Gwarisa

AN increasing body of evidence indicates that people living with HIV who acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection are at heightened risk of requiring hospitalization and having poor clinical outcomes. Data from the United States of America show that people living with HIV who acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection were much more likely to require hospitalization and suffer severe illness than people who were HIV-negative, while studies from England and South Africa have found that the risk of dying from COVID-19 among people with HIV was double that of the general population. Advanced HIV disease…

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3.3 Million Children At Risk Of Child Marriage Due To Post Pandemic Hunger Crisis – World Vision

Michael Gwarisa

A child that went to bed hungry in the past 4 weeks is 60% more likely to be married than their peers who did not experience hunger  Number of children experiencing crisis level hunger increased by 12 million between 2019 to 2020, meaning an additional 3.3 million children could be married before the age of 18.   Children who are not in school are 3.4 times more likely to be married than their peers that are in school.    82% of the children interviewed who were married became married after the debut of the pandemic.…

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Mutating HIV Virus Making It Difficult To Develop Vaccine

Michael Gwarisa

THE ever-changing genetic makeup and rapid mutation of the HIV virus has to a larger extent slowed down progress towards successfully developing an effective HIV vaccine, a top Zimbabwean expert has said. By Michael Gwarisa The revelations also follow the recent abandonment of the Imbokodo HIV vaccine or HVTN 705/HPX2008 efficacy studies after revelations that the vaccine was not granting enough protection against infection. In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Portia Hunidzarira, the Principal Researcher for the Imbokodo vaccine studies said the HIV virus mutates at a faster rate and…

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Zim’s COVID-19 Hospitalizations Decreases Further

Healthtimes

THE country has of late been recording a significant drop in the number of COVID-19 new cases which has seen hospitalizations and  COVID-19 related bed occupancy decreasing drastically. By Patricia Mashiri Speaking during a cabinet briefing Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, Information and Broadcasting Minister said, “…regarding case management, infection, prevention and control, the number of people in need of hospitalization for COVID-19 continues to fall, with the country’s bed occupancy rate decreasing from 4.62% the previous week to 4.3% during the week under review. Ninety-four (94) new admissions were recorded, with…

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All Licensed Bars Now Allowed To Open Only To Vaccinated Patrons

Michael Gwarisa

CABINET has announced that bars with valid operating licenses can now reopen but should only admit vaccinated individuals. By Michael Gwarisa Breifing Journalists during a pots cabinet briefing, Infomation minitser, Senetaor Monica Mutsvangwa said, “…Cabinet notes, with concern, that the continued closure of licensed bars and night clubs has caused not only a loss of income and unemployment but also resulted in the mushrooming of illegal outlets. “Cabinet therefore directed that all licensed bars be opened to fully vaccinated clients. Bar owners are also required to ensure that the World…

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#BREAKING: Police Arrest Bulawayo Couple For Aborting Pregnancy

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have arrested a Bulawayo woman (20) and her boyfriend (27) for unlawfully aborting a pregnancy which resulted in the lady discharging a foetus inside a plastic bucket. By Michael Gwarisa Through their official micro-blogging account, the ZRP said they were also looking for the doctor who assisted the couple in terminating the pregnancy. The ZRP is investigating a case of unlawful termination of pregnancy in which a Bulawayo woman (20) conspired with her boyfriend (27) to terminate pregnancy. The two visited a private doctor who…

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CDC Tells UK To Reconsider Vaccination Linked Travel Ban

Healthtimes

THE Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), a Specialised Technical Institution of the African Union, has issued a statement asking the United Kingdom (UK) government to reconsider their recent intended ban on travel for foreigners who would have received  other vaccines outside the United Kingdon. According to the U.K government, the restrictions which will be enforced starting at 4:00 am on Monday 4th October 2021. According to U.K government sources1, the new rules will discriminate between the recipients of COVID-19 vaccines not based on the vaccine received…

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