Tag: WHO

Zim’s Oral health strategy on cards

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere As part of efforts to improve oral health in the country, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) is working on developing a strategy for oral health as well as conducting a national oral health survey. This was said by Health and Child Care Deputy Minister, Sleiman Kwidini on Wednesday during the World Oral Health Day commemorations themed “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body”. According to the oral health situational analysis, carried out last year with support from WHO, there are gaps in service delivery, information for programming,…

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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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WHO Calls For Urgent Action As 400 Cholera Patients Are Hospitalized In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa World Health Organisation in Zimbabwe (WHO Zimbabwe) representative, Professor Jean-Marie Dangou has warned that a business-as-usual approach is detrimental to the prevailing Cholera situation in Zimbabwe. His call follows a recent surge in new Cholera infections and hospitalisations which could bring the healthcare sector to its knees should the situation continue for a few more weeks as 60 districts have reported cases so far in the country. Through his Micro-Blogging platform, Prof Dangou said there was need to act swiftly and address the deteriorating health situation. Indeed,…

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#Breaking: Zimbabwe Targets Two Million With Oral Cholera Vaccines

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to provide temporal protection against Cholera infection and severe cholera symptoms, Zimbabwe will soon be rolling out a targeted Oral Cholera vaccination program in the 57 affected districts, HealthTimes has learnt. Zimbabwe is among the 18 countries battling Cholera in the world and according to the Africa Centre for Diseases Control (Africa CDC), the widespread Cholera crisis on the continent has pushed demand for Oral Cholera Vaccines (OVC) to unprecedented levels. However, Zimbabwe has since made headway in terms of procuring vaccines and mapping…

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Challenging Online Post-Abortion Stigma in Zimbabwe: Advocating for Compassion

Healthtimes

By Memory Pamella Kadau Introduction The discourse surrounding abortion remains a contentious and divisive topic worldwide, and Zimbabwe is no exception to the complexities that surround it. Recognising that the decision to undergo an abortion is deeply personal and multifaceted, individuals navigate this choice for various reasons. The subject is often marred by misinformation, disinformation, and pervasive stigma, posing significant hurdles for those seeking safe and reproductive healthcare. The social media space in Zimbabwe has become toxic toward young girls and women who undergo abortions. This editorial delves into the…

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Misuse of medicines is making infections difficult to treat

Michael Gwarisa

World AMR Awareness Week #WAAW2023 is observed globally: 18th to 24th November Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and become resistant to (or no longer respond to) medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, medicines become ineffective, and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. That is why AMR ranks among the top ten global health threats worldwide. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a problem driven by…

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MCAZ in Global Benchmarking Tool Maturity Level 3 Upbeat Mode

Kuda Pembere

With the Vice President and Health and Child Care Minister Dr Constantine Chiwenga exhorting the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) to attain the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) Maturity Level 3 by year end, the authority says it is well on course as they are now waiting for reassessment. By Kuda Pembere Speaking at the MCAZ Annual General Meeting in Harare on Friday, VP Chiwenga said this GBT is important as it guides regulatory programs of various medical products such as medicines, vaccines, blood products, and…

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WHO to partner with MSU in health research

Healthtimes

RESEARCH is critical in enhancing the health and wellbeing of Zimbabweans and sustainable future for all, a top World Health Organization Zimbabwe Office official recently said. By Staff Reporter WHO Zimbabwe Coubtry Representative Professor Jean-Marie Dangou said this during a tour of the Midlands State University (MSU) to discuss potential collaborations with the University. Professor Dangou notioned his support for research which will improve health in Africa. He reiterated that WHO will invest in locally-driven research findings that will be translated into policy and action. “I believe that research is…

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Africa Needs to Strengthen Disease Surveillance and Innovation to Address Re-emerging Infectious Diseases- Dr Nyirenda

Michael Gwarisa

The world is slowly recovering from the ravaging effects of COVID-19 which lasted close to three years before the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that it was no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). According to WHO data, globally, as of 2 August 2023, an estimated 6,953,743 COVID-19 deaths and 768,983,095 confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been reported to WHO. By Michael Gwarisa While the risk of COVID-19 has subsided, and the rest of the world seems to be moving forward, Africa is experiencing a new wave…

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Three Neglected Tropical Diseases Pose Health Threat To Over 5 Million Zimbabweans

Michael Gwarisa

The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Principal Director Public Health, Dr Munyaradzi Dobbie says Zimbabwe is still saddled with the burden of three Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs, namely Schistosomiasis (SCH) & Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) and lymphatic filariasis. By Michael Gwarisa This was revealed during a Results dissemination Workshop for the 2021 National Geospatial mapping for the three NTD’s, namely Schistosomiasis (SCH) & Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) and 2023 Confirmatory Mapping of lymphatic filariasis in Zimbabwe in the Capital, Harare where it was revealed that 35 percent of…

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