Tag: COVID-19

Zimbabwe Fulfills Pledge, Delivers 20 000 Vaccine Doses To Namibia

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE has handed over a total 20 000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine to the government of Namibia to assist the country’s fight against COVID-19. HealthTimes Reporter Zimbabwe also donated hand sanitisers, face masks, reusable surgical gowns, face shields and hand washing shields which were manufactured by local universities and companies as well as medicines manufactured by Zimbabwe pharmaceutical companies. The handover ceremony took place at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Namibia where the Deputy Prime Minister and minister of International relations, Honorable Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah received the donation. Giving…

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COVID-19 Worsens Chronic Poverty In Zimbabwe’s Vulnerable Citizens- Report

Michael Gwarisa

LIMITED social protection vehicles and the absence of social safety nets for some venerable groups has exacerbated already existing inequalities and chronic poverty among Zimbabwe’s vulnerable groups. By Michael Gwarisa A new report, the Zimbabwe’s Second Voluntary National Review (VNR) 2021 indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has  affected government’s  capacity to effectively address chronic poverty (by helping the poor households) as well as the capacity to mitigate the socio-economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the 2019 Labour Force  and  Child  Labour  Survey  (LFCLS),  about  249,000  persons,  which  is …

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Stanbic Donates ZW$3.5 Million Worth Products To Albino Charity

Healthtimes

Stanbic Bank has donated sun protection products worth ZWL 3.5 million to the Albino Charity Organization of Zimbabwe (ALCOZ). By Patricia Mashiri The donated products include 1000 units of sunscreen lotions,1 000 units of antibacterial soap,1 000 units of antiseptic liquid, 1 000 units of lip balm, 1000 units of antiseptic ointment and 1 000 sunhats. Speaking during the handover ceremony Lucy Dlodlo, Manager for Sponsorship, Events and CSI Stanbic Bank said the institution was committed to play its part in protecting people with albinism from the sun cognizant of…

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Harare Lawyer Challenges Mandatory Vaccination

Healthtimes

OBERT Kondongwe, a Harare based lawyer has opposed government’s recent decision of making vaccination mandatory for church and religious gatherings as well as the move by other companies  and governments of sending unvaccinated staff on leave. By Patricia Mashiri In his court challenge, Kondongwe is saying there is no law currently in Zimbabwe which makes vaccination mandatory and as such, churches should not be penalized for attending churche gatherings unvaccinated. He also argued that Government is infringing on people’s rights and freedoms contained in section 51,52,56,58,60 and 65. It is…

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COVID-19 Increases Post-partum Depression Cases In Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

WOMEN have been urged to seek mental health assistance soon after birth to avoid sliding into Post-partum depression especially under the prevailing  COVID-19 pandemic. By Patricia Mashiri Post-partum depression is a form of depression that occurs after childbirth. Those who develop it are at a greater risk of developing major depression later in life. In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Kudakwashe Muchena, a the leading Psychologist in Zimbabwe said there was need to take extra care of pregnant and post-partum women as the process of birth comes with a lot…

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Vaccine Boosters Will Worsen Vaccine Nationalism Warns Dr Charimari

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Zimbabwe COVID-19 Team Leader, Dr Lincoln Charimari has warned that adopting vaccine boosters to enhance immunity in already vaccinated populations could trigger massive disparities in as far as vaccines access is concerned for resource limited countries. By Michael Gwarisa His remarks come at the back of indications that vaccine manufactures in other parts of the world were already submitting data seeking authorization to administer COVID-19 booster shots for their vaccinated populations especially those with compromised immunity. In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Charimari said it…

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No Evidence Of Drug Interaction Between ARVs And COVID-19 Vaccines- MoHCC

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has says there is no possibility of drug interaction if a Person Living with HIV (PLHIV) takes the COVID-19 vaccine, hence persons with HIV and on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) should not hesitate to get the jab. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual Media Briefing on HIV and COVID-19 vaccines that was organized by the Zimbabwe Association of Church Related Hospitals (ZACH), Mr Paul Chinakidzwa the Health Promotions Manager in the Ministry of Health said the COVID-19 vaccines for which WHO has…

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Vaccines Not Responsible For Coronavirus Mutations and Waves Says WHO Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Zimbabwe COVID-19 Team Leader, Dr Lincoln Charimari has poured water on a common myth that COVID-19 waves and variants could be emanating from vaccines. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual media training on Fact Checking that was hosted by the Gender Media Connect (GMC) in collaboration with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Dr Charimari said a lot of misinformation has been going on especially on social media regarding vaccines and coronavirus strains and waves. You must note that COVID-19 Waves and vaccines…

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Zimbabwe Needs To Strengthen Public Health Sector Capacity and Resilience beyond the 3rd Wave: Lessons not learnt from the previous waves

Healthtimes

THE past week or two have particularly been rough for Zimbabwe. 20 people were lost in a horrific road traffic accident, and hundreds more succumbed to COVID-19. Unfortunately, all-cause mortality is probably much higher. Our focus has been so much on COVID-19 over the past 18 months and we seem to have forgotten about our high burden of HIV, malaria and other infectious diseases. Good news is Zimbabwe was removed from the list of high tuberculosis burden countries in the past week; congratulations to the AIDS and TB unit, their…

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Zim Hospitalized Cases Shoot Through The Roof

Michael Gwarisa

THE number of COVID-19 patients admitted in health institutions in Zimbabwe has ballooned in the past few weeks owing to the high infectiousness of the new Delta variant that is currently dominant in the country. By Michael Gwarisa According to the ministry of health and child care (MoHCC) daily situation report of July 12, 2021, a total 753 COVID-19 patients are currently under institutional admission. As of 11 July, 2021, there were 753 hospitalized cases. New admissions 90, Asymptomatic 209 mild to moderate 439, severe 77 and 28 in Intensive…

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