HIV |

Roots Africa Integrates COVID-19 & HIV Programs In Mazowe

October 10, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

ROOTS Africa, a young woman led organisation working towards the promotion of economic and social justice among young people in peri-urban, rural and mining communities says it is working with the ministry of health and child care (MoHCC) to integrate COVID-19 and HIV health interventions in Mazowe district by taking health services to people’s doorsteps. By Michael Gwarisa Mazowe district in Mashonaland Central province has a high HIV incidence in young women and girls as well as a high Early Unintended Pregnancies (EUPs) rate owing to rampart uncontrolled artisanal mining…

Zvisikana Zvidiki Zvotengesa Bonde MuChiredzi

October 7, 2020October 7, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

INGUVA dzepfumbamwe Manheru, vazhinji muguta re Chiredzi vakugadizirira kunorara kuti vafumo bata jongwe muromo vakananga kumabasa zuva rinoteverea. Vutunga huri mubishi kuita ma press up hwakamirira kuti vanhu varare huwane kusvusvura. Na Michael Gwarisa ari Muchiredzi Nechekure, kurikunzwika Redhiyo ichidandauka zvekuti huyai muone. Miridzo nemheterwa zvirikuridzwa kuratidza kuti vanhu vari kutamba chipisi. Haungatombofungiri kuti kune Lockdown. Mukuru umwe atakataura naye akati iye mhere mhere iyi yainge ichibva kubhawa re Chigarapasi, rinova zvakare bhawa gururusa kupinda mamwe ose munyika yeZimbabwe. Tati fambe Chinhamwe takananga kwaibva neruzha, takaona mumugagwa unoenda ku Chigarapasi…

Zimbabwe Hit By Shortage Of Drug Sensitive TB Tablets

October 5, 2020October 5, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE is currently experiencing a shortage in Rifabutin 150 mg tablets used in the treatment of drug sensitive Tuberculosis (DS-TB) among TB/HIV co-infected patients on second line treatment antiretroviral therapy (ART). By Michael Gwarisa In a communique written to all provincial hospitals, Permanent Secretary in the ministry of health and child care (MoHCC), Dr Jasper Chimedza said based on the current stock levels, the country would be stocked out by end of November 2020. The country is currently faced with shortages of Rifubutin 150mg tablets. The shortages are associated with…

Civil Society, NAC Meet Senators To Discuss Age Restrictions To SRHR Access

September 15, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

A consortium of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) together with the National AIDS Council (NAC yesterday met senators to deliberate on issues hindering young people from accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services. By Michael Gwarisa The consortium dubbed the Access Task-force consists of various civil society organizations which include Advocacy Core Team, Right Here Right Now (RHRN), The PITCH Consortium, SHR Africa Trust (SAT), Youth Advocate Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Young Positives, Youth Engage, My Age and other youth affiliated organizations that have come on board to sign the petition…

Zim A Level Girl Ventures Into Sex Work To Raise Tuition and University Funds

September 14, 2020September 14, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

FOR 18-year-old Mercy (not real name), life took a twist soon after completing her Ordinary Level studies in 2018 in Chivhu. Having bagged 10 ‘O’ level subjects including Mathematics, English, and science subjects, Mercy enrolled for Advanced level at the same school she did her ‘O’ levels. By Michael Gwarisa After government announced closure of schools in March following confirmation of COVID-19 in the country, Mercy moved to Harare to live with her unemployed sister with the aim of raising fees for her final term as well as enroll for…

Fears Of Spike In STIs and Unintended Pregnancies As More Adolescent Girls Indulge In Unsafe Sex During Lockdown in Zimbabwe

September 11, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE prevailing lockdown has seen more young girls engaging in sexual activities with either older males and or boys of their ages, while a significant number of reports of sexual abuse against girls were also reported since Zimbabwe commenced its lockdown measures in March this year. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual meeting which was hosted by Plan International Zimbabwe, Maxwell Mhlanga, Plan Int Zimbabwe’s (PIZ) Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Manager said a survey they conducted in April indicated that more girls were indulging in sex…

COVID-19 disrupts access to SRHR for Zim’s LGBTI Community

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

LESBIAN, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people may be particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic according to a paper by the United Nations titled COVID-19 and the human rights of LGBTI people. Amongst the LGBTI community are people living with compromised immune systems, including some persons living with HIV/AIDS who also face a greater risk fromCOVID-19. However, the community continues to face massive stigma and discrimination at the hands of health workers and society. With the coming in of the COVID-19, and given an overloaded health system in Zimbabwe,…

New UNAIDS Report Raise Concerns Over Human Rights Abuse For Persons Living With HIV, Key Populations & Health Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic

August 31, 2020August 31, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

A new report published by the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) has noted high incidences of human rights abuse for health workers, persons living with HIV and key populations at high risk of HIV infection since the pandemic was reported in several countries. By Michael Gwarisa The report, “Rights in a pandemic – Lockdowns, rights and lessons from HIV in the early response to COVID-19″ is a snapshot in time, focusing on the very early days of the pandemic, from February till mid-May 2020, drawing attention to…

First Woman May Be Cured of HIV Without a Bone Marrow Transplant

August 30, 2020 Healthtimes

Loreen Willenberg is part of a group of elite controllers whose HIV appears to be locked away where it can’t produce new virus. A California woman may be the first person to be cured of HIV without a bone marrow transplant, according to a recent report in Nature. More than 60 other so-called elite controllers, who have unusually potent immune responses to HIV, were found to have their virus sequestered in parts of their genome where it is unable to replicate. HealthTimes The unusual case involves Loreen Willenberg, who acquired…

Dapirivirine Ring Not Substitute For Other HIV Prevention Methods- Dr Mgodi

August 27, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi MBChB, MMed, Investigator of Record, HPTN-084 Zimbabwe – University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences Clinical Trials Research Centre, and HPTN Executive Committee Member

THE Dapirivirine Vaginal Ring, a new effective HIV prevention tool for women, is not a substitute for existing HIV prevention methods but rather an innovation to expand prevention options for women, Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi an HIV expert and histopathologist has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a Twitter Question and Answer session that was organized by HealthTimes, Dr Mgodi said women need safe and effective biomedical HIV prevention strategies for use throughout their lives and the Dapirivirine ring presented women with such an opportunity. Studies of other HIV prevention…