Tag: UNICEF

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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Zim targets 4.2 million children in emergency polio vaccination

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Having detected some cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV) in Harare, another has been identified in Sanyati, a district in Mashonaland West prompting Zimbabwe’s health authorities to activate an emergency vaccination campaign for children below 10 years of age this month. The vaccination blitz intends to vaccinate 4.2 million children across the country. Addressing journalists on Friday,Deputy Health and Child Care Minister Honorable Sleiman Timios Kwidini said through their surveillance mechanisms they identified a case which was confirmed via laboratory tests. “The Ministry of Health and…

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Zimbabwe Records Upsurge In Adolescents Booking In Antenatal Clinics

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Adolescent pregnancy prevalence in Zimbabwe is standing at 23.7 percent, while 21 percent of Antenatal Clinic (ANC) bookings were recorded from January 2019 to December 2022 among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years, HealthTimes can reveal. The pregnancies have largely been driven by a myriad of factors, chief among them being economic-induced hardships, sexual abuse, and early exposure to pornographic and indecent online content, according to data from a National Assessment of Adolescent Pregnancies in Zimbabwe. The National assessment was conducted by the Centre for Sexual Health…

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Zimbabwe Launches House to House Oral Cholera Vaccination Campaign

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa A total of 2.3 million people, aged one year old and above, are set to benefit from the Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign that has been launched in Harare today. The campaign will be carried out on a  house-to-house, and cluster-to-cluster basis in 160 wards within 26 high-risk districts in seven provinces namely Harare, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, Masvingo and Midlands. These districts are considered the main drivers of the outbreak. Officiating at the launch, Minister of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Douglass…

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Africa Warms Up To Single-Dose HPV Vaccine

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following the relaunch of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) programme by GAVI the Vaccine Alliance, in line with the new World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations for a single-dose HPV vaccine, African states are embracing the administering of the one dosage in eligible populations. The developments come amidst indications that GAVI has set an ambitious target to reach 86 million girls with the HPV vaccine by 2025, as immunisation partners outline an ambitious plan to protect millions of girls in lower- and middle-income countries against cervical cancer. Speaking during…

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A Mother’s Unwavering Commitment: Ryan’s first Polio Vaccination

Healthtimes

What seemingly started like an ordinary morning for Whyy Mutumbunzou (21), with her routine house chores, including caring for her only child, 1-year-old Ryan, took an unexpected and thrilling turn. A radio broadcast message from the MoHCC encouraging all mothers and caregivers to bring their children under five years for the 4th round of the Polio vaccination campaign. By Own Correspondent Despite not knowing what Polio was, Whyy enthusiastically gathered her belongings and walked briskly with her son to the nearest clinic, Hatcliff Family Health Services. For Whyy, the choice…

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Protecting adolescents from unplanned pregnancies through access to comprehensive SRHR services

Healthtimes

By Dr Mildred T. Mushunje Adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health matters, and their lives matter!! Adolescents and young people constitute the bulge of population in the Sub-Saharan region, Zimbabwe in particular. An adolescent is any persons aged between 10 and 19 years. Very young adolescents are defined as those aged between 10 and 14 years and older adolescents as those aged between 15 and 19 years[1].  Investing in their good health and well-being increases their chances for better and more productive adult lives (SRHR Africa Trust, SAT, 2021[2]) yet they…

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Zimbabwe Drug Peddlers Selling Drugs To 14 Year Olds

Kuda Pembere

Local drug dealers, also known as MaJazzMan are now disregarding age and selling drugs to whoever shows up on their doorstep, a UNCEF Report has said. By Kudakwashe Pembere According to a UNICEF September 2023 research brief dubbed, ‘Understanding drug use and substance abuse by Zimbabwean adolescents and young people’, it was found that these dealers popularly known as ‘maJazzman’ are so profit-driven they condone any age. The research brief is a summary of the findings and recommendations from Muthengo Development Studies (MDS), Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN),…

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Unicef launches campaign targeting adolescents

Kuda Pembere

UNICEF Zimbabwe has launched a three month communication campaign to address the needs and challenges faced by adolescents in Zimbabwe. By Kuda Pembere Themed “Nothing for us without us”, the communication campaign will be running from this month to December. It comes at a time when the country is seized with containing high teenage pregnancies and child marriages as well as the incidence of HIV amongst adolescents. UNICEF Zimbabwe country representative Dr Tajudeen Oyewale said it was important for adults to listen to children, adolescents and young people. “For the…

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Unicef Zimbabwe urges government to invest in newborn health

Kuda Pembere

Government should invest in approaches that improve the monitoring of newborn health, the UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe said on Friday. By Kuda Pembere Addressing the Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZIMA) conference Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale said it was important to invest in research and approaches that enhance newborn health. “I call on both the Government and experts to invest more in innovative approaches to monitor newborn health, especially at the community and improve referral linkages to facilities. At the same time, new investment in Implementation research to allow us to better understand the current…

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