Tag: PUBLIC HEALTH

Hand Foot and Mouth Disease Is Not a Zoonotic Disease

Michael Gwarisa

Health authorities in Harare have confirmed a sharp rise in cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) since October 2025, emphasizing that the illness is not a zoonotic disease, meaning it cannot be transmitted from animals to humans. The disease apparently is different from what we find in cattle, the foot and mouth disease in cattle. So this is a different kind of infection that we see in humans only,” said Dr. Michael Vere, Deputy Director of the City Health Department, Harare, told HealthTimes in an interview. This clarifies…

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Policy Capture at COP11: What It Signals for Global Health Governance

Healthtimes

By Dr Vivian Manyeki, Public Health Specialist and Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocate In the busy corridors of the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Geneva, a heated exchange occurred. A young delegate, determined and armed with data, confronted a representative of a major global foundation. “We appreciate your contributions,” she said. “But Africa’s strategies must reflect our realities, not imposed templates.” This moment highlighted the tension between philanthropy and sovereignty. Wealthy philanthropists offer solutions for Africa, but governments must remain…

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An HIV Wave Hitting Only One Side of the Market: Women in Mat South Are Bearing the Brunt

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Mat South In Matabeleland South, the burden of new HIV infections falls almost exclusively on women. The numbers are more than statistics; they depict a crisis where mothers and daughters are diagnosed one after the other, while men’s rates lag behind. This imbalance is shrinking families, disrupting livelihoods, and leaving communities to pick up the pieces. Data from the 2022 National Housing and Population Census shows that Matabeleland South has an estimated population of 760,000 people. Of these, the National AIDS Council (NAC) estimates that 93,000…

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Zimbabwe’s Medicines Regulatory Body Registers Lencapavir

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has announced the expedited approval of Lenacapavir, an innovative long-acting medicine for pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV-1 infection. The MCAZ Director-General, Mr. Richard T. Rukwata, said “the rapid approval of Lenacapavir reflects the Authority’s dedication to accelerating access to trusted, high-quality health products and brings new hope for HIV prevention while reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding public health.” Lenacapavir was assessed and approved by the Registration Committee under the expedited review process, as it is considered to be…

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Health Experts Warn WHO Against Full Tobacco Ban and Call for Balanced Regulation

Healthtimes

By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma For decades, global public health experts have agreed on one thing: banning a dangerous substance rarely eliminates its use. It often pushes the trade underground, where governments lose visibility and control. Regulation, however, gives policymakers room to monitor, manage and gradually reduce harm. This tension now sits at the center of a growing global debate. As the World Health Organization (WHO) considers tightening international controls on tobacco production under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), major tobacco-producing economies fear that sweeping restrictions could trigger economic…

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NBSZ Targets 7 800 Units for the 2025 Festive Season

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has launched its Festive Season Blood Collection Campaign, urging Zimbabweans to donate blood in large numbers as demand for the life-saving resource traditionally increases during the holidays. The festive period is also associated with a rise in road traffic accidents, which places additional pressure on the national blood supply. Speaking during the launch, NBSZ Chief Executive Officer Lucy Marowa said the organisation decided to begin this year’s campaign earlier to prevent shortages. Okay, we normally see a 10 to 15% roughly…

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Health Services Suffer as Budget Remains Unused

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere As Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube prepares to present the 2026 National Budget, concerns persist over Zimbabwe’s failure to fully utilise health allocations, despite the Ministry of Health and Child Care consistently receiving less than 15 percent of the national budget. According to the 2025 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review, the Health Ministry had spent only 25 percent of its allocation by mid-year, compared to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, which had already spent 116 percent of its budget. Health Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora has…

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Funding Cuts Push Zimbabwe to Consider Reusable Circumcision Kits

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is exploring the use of reusable circumcision kits to sustain voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) services amid declining international funding and the gradual withdrawal of donor support. VMMC has been a key HIV prevention tool in Zimbabwe, credited with significantly reducing new HIV infections since the program’s launch in 2009. At its peak in 2012, the program recorded over 1.1 million circumcisions, contributing to the national goal of achieving 80% coverage among adult males and newborns. In the long term, Zimbabwe aimed to maintain around 150,000…

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Zimbabwe to Prioritise Local Funding in New HIV Strategy

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is set to begin developing its fifth Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (ZNASP V), which will guide the country’s HIV response from 2026 to 2030. The forthcoming strategy follows the successful implementation of ZNASP IV, which runs until 2025 and has seen major progress in the fight against HIV. Under ZNASP IV, Zimbabwe achieved remarkable milestones, including meeting the global 95-95-95 targets — where 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 95% of those…

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US Unveils $65 Million Bridge Plan to Sustain Zimbabwe’s HIV Respons

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The United States Department of State, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has unveiled a new HIV and AIDS support fund worth US$65.1 million for Zimbabwe. The initiative, known as The Bridge Plan, will run for the next six months, with renewal contingent on the Government of Zimbabwe meeting new U.S. Government (USG) funding requirements. Under the Bridge Plan, the U.S. government will continue to support critical HIV interventions such as antiretroviral therapy (ART) and HIV commodities procurement. However, the new funding excludes certain…

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