Tag: CWGH

Consult Before Extending Lockdwon, Health Experts Warn

Michael Gwarisa

PUBLIC health experts have called on President Emerson Mnangagwa to consult various stakeholders from all sectors before instituting a lockdown extension. By Michael Gwarisa Even though President Emmerson Mnangagwa has not announced any plans to extend the Lockdown, various sections of the economy believe an extension should not be a copy and paste scenario. Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said the lockdown extension needs extensive consultations lest innocent lives will be endangered especially those who rely heavily on the informal sector. The lockdown extension…

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#COVID-19: Share Correct Information To Avoid Stigma & Discrimination

Michael Gwarisa

THE Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has called on government and its stakeholders to be consistent in theory information dissemination processes to curd stigma and discrimination associated with the virus. By Michael Gwarisa CWGH Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said in as much as they  commend the government for putting additional precautionary measures against the possible spread of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), there should be a systematic means of sharing information to the public. Zimbabwe has so far recorded three confirmed cases of the disease which has killed thousands of…

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Desperate Zimbos Turn To Crowd Funding For Healthcare Financing

Michael Gwarisa

IN a country where medical aid coverage is less than 10 percent, ordinary Zimbabweans who can’t afford medical aid cover and health insurance have found solace in crowd funding initiatives for critical surgeries and treatment for complicated ailments. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Association of Healthcare Funders Zimbabwe (AHFoZ), medical aid coverage has dropped from a high of 10 percent in 2018 to the current  9 percent, making it untenable for majority of Zimbabweans whose life savings and hard earned cash has turned into manure since August 2018 at…

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CSOs Pressure Gvt To Appoint New NAC Board and CEO

Michael Gwarisa

THE National AIDS Council (NAC) which has gone for more than 365 days with neither a  substantive board nor Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has come under fire from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who believe the development was impacting negatively on the national HIV response. By Michael Gwarisa Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo dissolved the NAC board a year ago a few weeks after former NAC CEO, Dr Tapuwa Magure had resigned. Since January 2019, Mr Raymond Yekeye the NAC Operations Manager and Mr Alfred Manenji the Finance…

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Cut Expenditure On Military and Channel Funds To Health

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe national budget should cease prioritising military expenditure and channel funds towards the ailing health sector in order to reduce internal conflict from disgruntled healthcare workers. By Michael Gwarisa Giving an analysis of the 2020 Health Budget, Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said the 2020 budget has remained static and largely uninspiring and the humongous allocation of fund to the military was worrisome. While the Ministries of Basic Education and Health got the second and third highest votes after agriculture, their allocations at…

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Traditional Midwives Not Allowed In Zim Says Gvt

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) does not encourage traditional midwives to deliver babies nor offer maternal health related services to pregnant women, a top government official has warned. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes in the wake of what has been described as “heroic works” of one Mbare traditional midwife, Mrs Esther Gwena who has since delivered more than 100 babies at her home. However, the babies are being delivered in the absence of critical health sundries such as, disinfectants, safe delivery kits, running water and proper…

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Dump Disciplinary Action and Pursue Dialogue With Doctors-Gvt Warned

Michael Gwarisa

INSTITUTING disciplinary action on striking doctors would only worsen an already fragile health system in Zimbabwe, health experts have warned. By Michael Gwarisa Junior doctors in Zimbabwe abandoned their workstations early September, 2019 citing incapacitation as a result of the meagre wages which they say can hardly sustain their daily needs. Government has since declared the job action illegal through a Labour Court victory but this however, has not moved the striking doctors with the medical practitioners maintaining that they are still incapacitated and a court order was not useful…

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Government should engage the doctors to avert the looming strike action

Michael Gwarisa

THE Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive director, Mr Itai Rusike has called on government to consider reengaging doctors who have downed tools to avoid plunging the country’s already ailing health sector into a deeper crisis. Government doctors last week gave notice that they would go on strike following their rejection of a 60% salary increase offer. Mr Rusike said there doctors demands were not ridiculous and government should engage in good faith if the situation is to be averted. The doctors want their salaries to be adjusted to…

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CWGH Donates US$50k worth of goods to Cyclone Idai…Health Workers to benefit

Healthtimes

THE Community Working Group on Health (CWGH), has handed over US$50 000 worth of goods comprising of consumable and non-consumable items to the Cyclone Idai affected communities in Manicaland. By Michael Gwarisa A total of 100 households are set to benefit and these also include vulnerable members of society, healthcare workers and village or community health workers who were also affected by the cyclone. Speaking at the handover event, CWGH Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said health workers were being side-lined in most donations despite the fact they were also…

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Parirenyatwa Health Crisis Turning Into National Disaster- CWGH

Healthtimes

COMMUNITY Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive director, Mr Itai Rusike has warned that the prevailing health crisis at Parirenyatwa Hospital could soon become a national disaster if government does not treat it with the urgency it deserves. By Michael Gwarisa The health crisis at Parirenyatwa has seen consultant doctors  downing tools after the institutions failed to allocate the necessary resources which include medical sundries, drugs and equipment. In other instances, unconfirmed number of deaths have been reported from the burns, maternal and emergency wards owing to the resources crisis.…

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