Tag: MALNUTRITION

Malnutrition Spikes In Cyclone Idai Hit Communities

Michael Gwarisa

CHIPINGE District Hospital is battling increased cases of malnutrition emanating from Chimanimai, some parts of Chipinge and Mozamabique which were hit by the tropical cyclone idai, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa in Chipinge Speaking to Journalists during the Post Cyclone Idai assessment media tour which was organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNDP and the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Chipinge District Acting Medical Officer (DMO), Dr Ozimmo Matekenya said the malnutrition crisis was most prevalent in children and babies under the age of five. In…

Read More

Gvt Urged To Increase Funding Towards Nutrition…As Malnutrition Stalks Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE continues to be trailed by long episodes of malnutrition amidst indications that one in every four children under the age of five years is experiencing malnutrition within their 1000 days from birth up to two years. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing journalists in the capital Harare, Zimbabwe Civil Society Organisations Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance (ZCSOSUNA) National Coordinator, Kudakwashe Zombe said there was need for government and partners to mobilise domestic financial resources towards supporting nutrition interventions in the country. “We are however deeply concerned that despite progress made in reducing…

Read More

Integrated Nutrition And WASH Project Transforms Binga Fortunes

Michael Gwarisa

NUTRITION is a basic human right and has been identified as the most pertinent and key component in ensuring countries achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), hence the need for a multisectoral nutrition security approach towards realising nutrition goals for citizens. By Michael Gwarisa in Binga Despite most governments including Zimbabwe having committed to advancing nutrition centered solutions as well as ending malnutrition by the year 2030, more still needs to be done to realise this vision. In Binga, the issue of food insecurity as a result of reoccurring droughts has…

Read More

Polygamy Hampers Nutrition Interventions in Binga

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa in Binga, Matelele POLYGAMY is one oldest practice in African culture including Zimbabwe. Back in the day, having more than one wife was a sign of power and wealth and men could be revered for exhibiting such capabilities. More women would translate to greater yields and productivity in the fields was guaranteed as the women would bear more children  who would work in the fields hence making him a household name in the community. In modern-day Rural Matelele Village in Binga, Polygamy is not a crime and…

Read More

The Nomads Of Siakobvu…A Sad Reality Caused By Droughts and Malnutrition

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa in Kariba, Siakobvu A 350 kilometer drive through the woods and dense forest from Kariba town through a meandering dusty and partially gravel road leads one to an almost invisible settlement called Siakobvu  in Nyaminyami rural district. Every year, the people in the area have to contend with little food hand-outs they get from well-wishers and non-governmental organisations owing to the perennial hunger and critical food shortages the community experiences annually. Even though some farmers in the area have already commenced land preparations for the 2017/18 cropping season,…

Read More

Zim Children Threatened By Stunting

Healthtimes

By Kudakwashe Pembere STUNTING is proving to be a big menace to proper child nutrition, growth and development in Zimbabwe and if not nipped, could lead to a double burden of child malnutrition and over nutrition, a Food and Nutrition Council official has said. The World Health Organisation defines stunting as the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation. Children are defined as stunted if their height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the WHO Child Growth Standards median. Speaking…

Read More

Midlands Province Successfully Integrates Pediatric ART and Nutrition

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa recently in Lower Gweru THE Midlands province has successfully integrated nutrition and paediatric Anti Retro Viral Therapy (ART) programs in a bid to reduce infant mortality as a result of HIV induced malnutrition, a health official has said. Briefing Journalists on the side-lines of a Save the children Nutrition Media Sensitisation Tour of Lower Gweru, Midlands Province District Medical Officer, Dr Shakespeare Mureyano said there was poor uptake of Pediatric ART in the area and as a result, opportunistic infections like diarrhea would attack children who are…

Read More

Malnutrition Almost Killed My 2 year Old Baby…Woman Narrates Ordeal

Healthtimes

“At that time, she was 1 year 7 months old, I had already introduced her to solid foods, I would say I started feeding her porridge  a day after she was born not knowing it would affect my child…” By Michael Gwarisa recently in Shamva “Mwana anofanira kudya tuporridge tu tete tete, kana tumahewu netumvura kuti asimbe mudumbu, ukaona mwana achiramba kuyamwa anenge achichema zita!” Loosely translated “A new born baby must and should be fed porridge, or traditional non-alcoholic brew or water, if you see your child crying all…

Read More

The Power Of Women Support Groups in Scaling Up Nutrition

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa recently in Shamva ZIMBABWE witnessed a surge in child malnutrition cases in the years 2015/16 owing to the Elnino induced drought which left millions of Zimbabweans from most parts of the country in need of food aid. According to information gathered by Save the Children Zimbabwe a Non- Governmental Organisation which deals with issues affecting children and their rights, cases of Severe Malnutrition were recorded over the past two years as a result of the droughts and extreme cases were documented in Binga, Chegutu, Kariba, Shamva and…

Read More

The Plight Of Malnourished HIV Positive Mothers In Hopely

Healthtimes

“We end up eating our baby’s food because the situation at times becomes so bad, there wont be any food in the house…” By Michael Gwarisa  IT’S a Wednesday morning and hundreds of women both young and old are queuing at a World Food Program (WFP) container cubicle at Hopley Satellite Clinic to get their monthly allocations of fortified food for them and their young ones. Amongst the women is one weary looking young woman seating by the long bench with her baby clutched on her back. A gaze deep…

Read More