By Joseph Magero Smokers who use nicotine vapes are up to 67% MORE LIKELY TO QUIT than those using traditional nicotine-replacement therapy and TWICE AS LIKELY to succeed as people trying to quit ‘cold turkey’, according to the world’s leading authority on medical evidence. The Cochrane report, published last week,

By Michael Gwarisa The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is showing early signs of slowing, with confirmed cases declining from a peak recorded in August, but Africa CDC has warned that the outbreak remains far from being brought under control. Speaking during a weekly Africa CDC

By Kuda Pembere The Public Health Institute of Zimbabwe (PHIZ) has intensified efforts to bridge the research-policy gap by training 40 University of Zimbabwe students to translate public health research into evidence that can influence policy and practice. The week-long training is being conducted under PHIZ’s health workforce capacity strengthening

By Michael Gwarisa Thousands of migrant care workers in the United Kingdom facing exploitative or abusive working conditions could now have a crucial lifeline after the British Government changed visa rules to allow recognised victims of modern slavery to leave abusive employers without putting their immigration status at risk. The

By Staff Reporter The Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Zimbabwe (HOSPAZ) will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 25 September 2026, bringing together members and stakeholders to review the organisation’s progress and chart its priorities for the years ahead. The AGM is expected to provide a platform for

By Michael Gwarisa Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora has warned against the growing threat of cartels and corruption in Zimbabwe’s health sector, saying there must be no “sacred cows” when credible allegations of wrongdoing emerge. Speaking at the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s 2026 Review and

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s growing drug and substance abuse crisis has renewed debate over how people who use drugs are treated, with harm reduction expert Wilson Box questioning the effectiveness of militarised and highly regimented rehabilitation programmes. Box argues that drug dependence should be approached primarily as a public health

By Kuda Pembere Journalists have been urged to verify information with relevant authorities before publication, particularly during humanitarian emergencies, to prevent misinformation and unnecessary panic in affected communities. The call comes in the aftermath of the Kariba ferry disaster and the more recent Harare-Chivhu road disaster, which generated widespread public

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN) has challenged the country’s rollout of lenacapavir, raising concern that people who use and inject drugs are being left out while other key populations have been identified among the priority groups for the HIV prevention technology. Speaking at a media

By Michael Gwarisa The Avenues Clinic has invested approximately US$500,000 in upgrading its Intensive Care Unit (ICU), High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Coronary Care Unit (CCU), in a move aimed at improving patient safety, clinical outcomes and the working environment for healthcare staff. The upgrade has introduced new critical-care infrastructure

By Michael Gwarisa A digital platform designed to help screen artisanal miners for silicosis has won the third edition of the Cimas Healthathon, putting a spotlight on the potential of locally developed technology to address some of Zimbabwe’s most persistent healthcare challenges. SilicaGuard, developed by two Chinhoyi University of Technology

By Kuda Pembere The Harare Institute of Public Health (HIPH) has upgraded its computer laboratory from an 80-seater to a 120-seater facility as it moves to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based learning and research. The upgraded laboratory, equipped with modern computers, is expected to give students greater access to technology and

By Michael Gwarisa When a woman or girl becomes pregnant after rape, the questions can come quickly. Can she legally terminate the pregnancy? Does she have to report the rape first? Does she need permission from her husband or parents? Can she simply go to a hospital? What happens if

By Michael Gwarisa The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says it remains confident that the continent can safely host the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Addis Ababa in November, despite the rapidly escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The

By Michael Gwarisa HARARE-Battle lines have been drawn for the Cimas Healthathon 3.0 grand finale, with 10 teams set to go head-to-head tomorrow in a contest that organisers say could produce the next generation of digital solutions for Zimbabwe’s healthcare system. The finalists emerged from a field of 372 submissions

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe has commissioned a new medical waste incinerator at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals capable of processing up to 187 kilogrammes of medical waste per hour, as the country moves to strengthen healthcare waste management and infection prevention. The incinerator is one of three constructed under a US$2.2

By Michael Gwarisa The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new formulation of the HIV medicine dolutegravir for use in newborns from birth through four weeks of age, expanding treatment options for one of the most vulnerable groups at risk of HIV infection. The approval covers Tivicay

By Michael Gwarisa “Sometimes we go the whole day without eating because there is no food at school.” For one learner in Buhera District, the reality of school feeding is summed up in a single sentence. For children who depend on meals provided at school, the availability of food can

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is considering introducing colour-coded food labels that would make it easier for parents and caregivers to identify foods high in sugar, salt and fat, as the Government moves to strengthen regulation of unhealthy food products and their marketing to children. The proposed system would use familiar

By Michael Gwarisa For a survivor of rape, the assault may last minutes or hours. Its consequences can last much longer. Sometimes, those consequences are visible. There may be physical injuries, the need for medical treatment or concerns about sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Other consequences are less visible. Fear,