Africa CDC Confirms Mpox Vaccine Production to Start in 2025

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, told a media briefing that local production of the Mpox vaccine on the continent will commence this year, although he did not provide specific timelines. In 2024, Africa CDC partnered with Bavarian Nordic to enhance vaccine manufacturing capabilities within Africa. The partnership aims to strengthen health security across the continent. We have the outcome; we have now started discussions with the successful bidders,” said Dr. Kaseya. “At the moment, we are finalizing some…

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Zimbabwe’s New Mothers Face Extortion for ‘Free’ Child Health Cards

Henry Damisoni

By Gamuchirai Masiyiwa, GPJ Zimbabwe HARARE, ZIMBABWE — First-time mother Connie Jowa stands with her 3-month-old baby nestled against her back, chatting with other mothers in line. Like many women at this crowded clinic in Harare’s Mabvuku suburb, Jowa is trying to get a Child Health Card, which was unavailable when she gave birth at a public hospital, and was still out of reach at her local clinic. Health cards are mysteriously out of stock. But they can be bought under the table, if you know who to ask and…

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Cimas Health Group Partners Smilestar, a United Kingdom-Based Dental Organisation

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  In a successful partnership aimed at improving oral healthcare access for underserved communities, Smilestar, a UK-based charity dental organization, joined forces with Cimas Health Group, Zimbabwe’s longest-established private medical aid society. Together, they conducted a two-week dental outreach program in Matabeleland North, offering essential services to remote populations. The outreach, which concluded on March 20, focused on providing free dental treatments to residents of remote areas, where access to dental care is often limited. Cimas Health Group played a pivotal role by offering a fully equipped mobile…

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Treat the funding cuts like the humanitarian disaster that they are

Healthtimes

By Dr Esther C. Casas On February 26th, the US government issued around 5,200 termination letters to programmes worldwide funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and 4,100 funded by the Department of State and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). These programmes were ordered to shut down operations immediately and permanently. Many provided essential and lifesaving healthcare services for malaria, Ebola, malnutrition, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), HIV and tuberculosis (TB), and vaccination, among other critical health issues. These abrupt terminations came after more than a month of chaos and devastation for…

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National Health Insurance Draft Bill Set for Parliamentary Debate by June

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabweans may have to wait longer for the long-awaited National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, as its draft bill is now expected to be presented to Parliament in June. With fewer than 10% of Zimbabweans covered by medical insurance, the Health Ministry has debated the NHI for decades without implementation. In March last year, Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora indicated that the NHI would be introduced in July. By May, he said it would be tabled before Parliament that same July. Reviving this commitment, the…

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Nigeria Leads Africa in Skin Bleaching, with 77% of Users Engaging in the Practice

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Nigeria has the highest prevalence of skin bleaching in Africa, with 77% of its population using skin-lightening products, a new report has revealed. The November 2023 Regional Fact Sheet on Skin Bleaching in Africa, compiled by the African Health Observatory (AHO) under the World Health Organization (WHO), warns that the widespread practice poses severe health risks and remains a major public health concern. Despite global efforts to regulate and ban harmful skin-bleaching products, millions of Nigerians continue to use them, driven by social, cultural, and economic pressures.…

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Ministry of Health Addresses Concerns at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter The Ministry of Health and Child Care has reassured staff and the public that measures are being taken to address key concerns raised by nurses at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital following their demonstration on March 17, 2025. In a statement, the Ministry acknowledged the challenges at the hospital, particularly issues related to water supply, elevator functionality, staff welfare, and medical supplies. Efforts are already underway to resolve these problems and improve service delivery at the facility. One of the main concerns raised by hospital staff was the…

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HealthTimes Introduces the Zim Medical Doctors Directory

Healthtimes

By Staff Reporter In a bold move aimed at curbing the rise of fraudulent practitioners in Zimbabwe, HealthTimes has launched the Zim Medical Doctors Directory. The platform is set to act as a reliable reference point for credible medical services in the country, offering patients a trusted source to find qualified doctors. This comes amid a growing concern over the increasing number of individuals claiming to be medical professionals without proper qualifications, putting patients at risk of being duped and subjected to unsafe treatments. We are introducing this platform not…

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Mutawatawa Hospital Gets New Digital X-Ray Machine

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a move set to revolutionize healthcare access in rural communities, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), with support from UNDP Zimbabwe, has installed a new X-ray machine at Mutawatawa District Hospital in Mashonaland East. The new X-ray machine replaces the outdated analogue system, significantly improving healthcare access by providing timely and accurate medical imaging. This advancement reduces the need for patients to travel long distances to urban centers for X-ray services. Speaking to HealthTimes,  Dr. Gladman Mubonani, the District Medical Officer for Mutawatawa said…

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