By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has taken a bold step in the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) with the launch of the Unitaid-funded COMBAT DRTB project, an ambitious initiative set to place communities at the center of TB care and drive transformative change in how the disease is managed across the country. The project, officially titled Community-Driven Approaches for Transformative Change to Combat Drug-Resistant TB (COMBAT DRTB), was unveiled today at an inception meeting held in Harare, bringing together stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, and development partners. The launch marks…
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Zimbabwe to Implement New WHO HIV Guidelines
By Shamiso Yikoniko in Kigali, Rwanda The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated HIV prevention, treatment, and care guidelines during the 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science in Kigali, Rwanda, offering renewed hope in the global fight against HIV. Zimbabwe, home to an estimated 1.3 million people living with HIV, is expected to benefit from these new tools to bolster its already robust response to the epidemic. The revised guidelines introduce key innovations designed to simplify care, expand prevention options, and improve patient outcomes. Among the…
Read MoreStop TB Partnership Sensitizes New Parliamentarians On Tuberculosis Advocacy
By Michael Gwarisa in Kadoma IN a bid to capacitate new parliamentarians on advocacy issues regarding Tuberculosis (TB), the Stop TB Partnership in Zimbabwe recently held a one day TB orientation meeting with newly elected members of parliament mainly from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee (PPC) on health. The orientation meeting follows the holding of the 2023 harmonized elections in Zimbabwe which ushered in new Members of Parliament (MPs) who now hold key positions. Speaking in an interview with HealthTimes on the side-lines of the orientation meeting Kadoma, Honourable Josiah Makumbe…
Read MoreZHI Launches Multimillion worth Programs to Advance HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment In Zimbabwe
THE Zimbabwe Health Interventions (ZHI), through support from the USAID, PEPFAR and the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), has launched two programs, the DREAMS-RISE and ACCE initiatives in bid to reduce new HIV infections as well as economic induced vulnerabilities in Adolescents Girls and Young Women (AGYW). By Michael Gwarisa The acronym ACCE stands for, Accelerated and Comprehensive HIV Care for Epidemic Control in Zimbabwe (ACCE) while DREAMS-RISE stands for Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS Free Mentored and Safe – Re-Ignite, Innovate, Sustain and Empower (DREAMS-RISE). The two programs…
Read MoreDon’t Let The HIV Story Die, Gvt Tells Journalists
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) says even though Zimbabwe is moving closer to epidemic control, more still needs to be done in terms of amplifying the message of HIV prevention, treatment and control. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is one of the countries most affected by HIV and the pandemic has had a reversal effect on the socio-economic progress that our country achieved over the years. Officiating at the National AIDS Council Editors and Station Managers Workshop in Mazowe on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Child…
Read MoreZim Married Couples Urged To Use Condoms
THE National AIDS Council (NAC) Monitoring and Evaluation Director, Mr Amon Mpfofu says the risk of HIV infection is equally high among married couples as evidenced by latest nationwide HIV estimates. By Michael Gwarisa recently In Chinhoyi Speaking to Editors and Station Mangers during a sensitization meeting that was organized by NAC in Chinhoyi, Mr Mpofu attributed the high number of new HIV infections in Matebelenad South to spousal separation as married couples are either separated by work or migration into neighboring countries. In 2020, the highest HIV prevalence was…
Read MoreZimbabwe Records Reduction In New HIV Infections In June 2020 As Compared To June 2019
EASE of collecting medication for people on life long medication has improved in the last two months during due to measures adopted by government and partners during the lockdown period to minimize the risk of acquiring COVID-19. By Catherine Murombedzi Depending on the current inventory stock-status and to ensure clients minimise travel, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) advised on providing a resupply which lasted a minimum of three months or up to 6 months for clients who were not ill. Each centre looked at its inventory and…
Read More#PEPFAR15: PEPFAR Scales Up HIV Prevention in Zimbabwe
…More People Initiated On ART The U.S Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has launched the PEPFAR’s year-long 15th anniversary campaign amidst indications that close to 900 000 people living with HIV received Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) in 2017 through its efforts. The celebrations will be running under the theme “15 Years of Saving Lives through American Generosity and Partnerships which is aimed at highlighting the tremendous impact, efficiency, and accountability of the U.S. government’s longstanding HIV/AIDS leadership across three administrations. According to PEPFAR, latest trends indicate that death and despair have…
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