Tag: NCDs

16 percent Childhood Asthma Prevalence in Harare: ACACIA Study

Michael Gwarisa

By Kudakwashe Pembere With childhood asthma becoming increasingly prevalent in Africa’s major cities, a new study has found that Harare has a childhood asthma prevalence rate of 16%, the Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA) study findings stated. The study was an observational study aimed at gathering evidence on paediatric asthma in urban areas of Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. These findings help close a significant research gap on childhood asthma in Africa. The study commenced in 2019 and concluded in 2021. Speaking during the…

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Zim Youths Join Global Call for Urgent Action on NCDs and Mental Health

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter Zimbabwean youth leaders on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have joined their global peers in calling for immediate, bold action to tackle NCDs and mental health challenges, following the launch of the Kigali Youth Declaration at the Global NCD Alliance Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda. More than 60 youth representatives from over 40 countries, including delegates from Zimbabwe, co-created the Declaration, which demands stronger policies, greater investment in youth health, and the meaningful inclusion of young people in decision-making processes concerning NCDs and mental health. NCDs, including poor mental…

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Minister Mutsvangwa Rallies Women to Regularly Screen for Lifestyle Diseases

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, has applauded PSMAS Medical Aid Society for championing a week-long wellness outreach program, where over 200 members have been screened for various lifestyle diseases. The program kicked off on Tuesday, February 24, 2025, and will end on Friday, February 28, 2025. The outreach is being conducted through Premier Lifestyle, a PSMAS wellness program. Speaking on the sidelines of the screening outreach program at the PSMAS Headquarters in Harare, where she also underwent screening for several…

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Junk and processed Foods Driving Non-Communicable Diseases in Zimbabwe’s Young People

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is experiencing a surge in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) linked to poor lifestyles and consumption of unhealthy diets, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has warned. Recent data from the annual Obesity Atlas shows that 2.9 million Zimbabwean children will be having high Body Mass Index (BMI) by year 2035 and the number of children who had high BMI in 2020 was 1,155,173. This according to the report will likely trigger an increase in stroke related health complications, diabetes linked to BMI among other conditions.…

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NCDs In African Children Put On The Spotlight As Inaugural ICPPA Conference Kicks Off In Tanzania

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania The First International Conference on the PEN-Plus Regional Strategy to Address Severe Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Africa (ICPPA), has commenced in Tanzania, amidst calls for increased investment towards prevention, research and care for childhood NCDs. The four-day confrence is running from April 23 to  April 25 2024, under the theme, “Prioritising Person-Centered Approach to Chronic and Severe NCDs-Type 1 Diabetes, Sickle Cell Diseases, and Childhood Heart Diseases.” The conference is being hosted by the  Tanzania Ministry of Health in Tanzania and the…

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The imperative of integrated person-centered care to achieving Universal Health Coverage

Healthtimes

By Vivian Mugarisi Harare, Zimbabwe – 51-year-old Kay Mabika** adheres to her HIV medication. Testing positive for HIV in 2006 added more weight and complexities onto the burden of living with diabetes, which she was diagnosed with 4 years earlier. Despite being strict in adhering to antiretroviral treatment (ART), Mabika struggles to manage her diabetic condition and is worried that she may not even be able to afford the medication when she retires. Due to the diabetic condition, she lost her sight in her left eye and the right one…

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Zimbabwe Hosts Workshop on Integrating Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Mental Health Components in HIV Programming for Global Fund

Healthtimes

Harare, Zimbabwe – Representatives from Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, whose funding request proposals are due for submission to the Global Fund, are meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe from 19-21 April 2023. The meeting gives these high impact countries a chance to integrate Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Mental Health components in their proposals. The workshop is being hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe with financial and technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS. The meeting marks a step up in action towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC)…

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Zim Global Fund Indaba Spotlights Triple Threat Of HIV,TB and NCDs

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE is currently meeting other African countries in Harare for the Global Fund Regional workshop to support countries with integrating NCDs and mental health into their funding request proposals to the Global Fund. By Michael Gwarisa The three day meeting is being attended by delegates from Ministries of Health from the African region, partners, and People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV) from Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Various speakers who during the official opening day concured that while there have been huge investments towards HIV, TB and malaria response through…

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Infertility on the rise in Zimbabwean Men

Michael Gwarisa

THERE is currently an increase in infertility in Zimbabwe owing to a myriad of factors ranging from anatomical, environmental, dietary/weight and physiological factors, reproductive health experts have warned. By Michael Gwarisa Infertility, which is defined clinically as failure to conceive after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse affects approximately 48.5 million couples globally. Data from a cross section study by consultant Obstetrician, Dr Mugove Madziyire et al which explored “The causes of infertility in women presenting to gynaecology clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe” shows that half of the causes…

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Addressing Non-communicable diseases (diabetes) in Zimbabwe: Taking the bull by the horns

Healthtimes

According to the World Health Organisation (2021), noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are chronic conditions of long term duration caused by genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors. The World Health Organisation (2021) estimates that NCDs account for 41 million deaths globally each year which is 71% of all deaths globally and of these 85% occur in low and middle-income countries including Zimbabwe. By Enock Musungwini This opinion piece focuses on diabetes as the NCD of interest particularly type 2 diabetes as it accounts for 92% of all diabetes cases globally. Diabetes is…

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