Tag: MR ITAI RUSIKE

Two Generations, One Battle: Global Fund’s Role in Zimbabwe’s ARV Success

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa When Otilia Tasikasni learned she was HIV positive in 1991, she believed her life was over. The diagnosis then was not just a medical statement; it was a countdown. Doctors told her she had only two or three years to live, and every day felt like borrowed time. “At one point, all I would think of was dying,” recalls the 59-year-old, her voice steady but her eyes betraying memories of that period. “Even though I was not sick then or showing any signs of illness, I was…

Read More

Government must intensify measles awareness and vaccination campaigns

Healthtimes

The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has urged the government to intensify measles vaccination and awareness campaigns to prevent further deaths as the highly contagious disease continues to claim lives  countrywide. By Staff Reporter In a statement, CWGH Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said, “…the worrying statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) indicate that since the measles outbreak in Mutasa district in Manicaland province last month about 700 people, mainly from the religious sects that do not believe in vaccination, have succumbed to the disease.…

Read More

Honoring 2021 COVID-19 Information Champions

Healthtimes

EVERY battle has its heroes and for Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 raging war,  we owe everything to our dedicated health personal, government, community health players, media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for joining hands in fighting this unwelcome visitor called COVID-19. In every battle, information plays a key role in equipping fighters with strategies and ways to either evade the enemy or take him on head-on. Misinformation and the propagation of wrong and false information however could lead soldiers and innocent civilians right into the hands of the enemy, hence the need…

Read More

Govt Should Strengthen COVID-19 Surveillance Ahead Of Festive Season- Rusike

Healthtimes

THE Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director,  Mr Itai Rusike has warned that the relaxation of international and regional travel restrictions will likely lead to uncontrolled importation of new COVID-10 variants especially during the forthcoming festive season. By Patricia Mashiri His call comes at the back of emerging highly virulent coronavirus variants in other parts of the world that have seen countries such as China closing schools and travel while Russia and United Kingdom (UK) have also started wittiness a massive surge in cases and deaths. Speaking to…

Read More

Closure Of Schools Not An Option

Healthtimes

EVEN though the country has begun recorded pockets of new infections especially in schools, it is  not wise to close schools at the moment, Public Health Experts have warned. By Patricia Mashiri Schools especially in Mbereengwa have been recording new COVD-19 infections of late, prompting some parents to push for closure of the schools before the situation spirals out of control. However, local health experts believe the situation was still under control and there was no need for halting studies. Speaking to HealthTimes, Mr Itai Rusike, the Executive Director for…

Read More

Private Health Sector Should Not Profiteer From Vaccines-CWGH

Michael Gwarisa

THE Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike says the ongoing private sector vaccination drive should not compromise availability of vaccine stocks in the public sector where majority of citizens are getting vaccinated. By Michael Gwarisa His plea follows reports that some public health institutions as well as local authority facilities were having challenges and struggling to administer the first dose while private players administering vaccines were fully stocked with both first and second doses. Speaking to HealthTimes, Mr Rusike said even though Zimbabwe should be…

Read More

Zimbabweans Risk Incomplete Vaccination

Healthtimes

THE prevailing shortages of first doses of vaccines being administered in Zimbabwe could result in majority of citizens being partially vaccinated if something is not done urgently, a Public Health Expert has warned. By Tanaka Moyo There have been widespread and confirmed reports of shortages of first dosses of the Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines especially around urban poly clinics resulting in people being turned away without getting jabbed. In an interview with HealthTimes, Mr Itai Rusike, the Executive Director for the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) said the issue…

Read More