WHO has no reports yet of Covid deaths from Omicron variant

Healthtimes

The WHO has said it will take several weeks to get a full picture of Omicron’s transmissibility and disease severity and to assess how vaccines, tests and treatments hold up against the new variant. By AFP GENEVA: The World Health Organization said Friday, December 3, 2021, it had not seen any reports of deaths relating to the new Omicron variant of Covid-19. The WHO said it was collecting evidence about the variant of concern (VOC), as countries around the world scramble to stop it from spreading. But despite a growing…

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NCDs and Disability Perspective During The IDD 2021

Healthtimes

As Best Non-Communicable Diseases Zimbabwe (BeatNCDs Zim) we join the world in commemorating the International Day of Disability which is celebrated every year on the 4th of December. This year’s theme is “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.”  So as people living with NCDs(PLWNCDs) and people with disabilities(PWDs) we are taking the centre stage of this year’s commemoration by being meaningfully involved in unpacking the relationship between NCDs and disability. By Jacob Ngwenya Non-communicable diseases are diseases that are not transmitted…

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Zim Only Has 22 Radiologists

Healthtimes

THERE are 22 radiologists serving the whole of Zimbabwe with the majority based in Harare, one stationed in Bulawayo, HealthTimes has learned HealthTimes Correspondent This grim revelation comes at a time when massive brain drain of health workers is further crippling the health sector. In an interview, Dr CADX co-founder Mr Gift Gana said this was testimony to the limited human and infrastructural resources in Zimbabwe. We have got limited resources in Zimbabwe. And this includes radiologists who are our specialists for interpreting medical images. Here in Zimbabwe we have…

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Zimbabwe Records Over 1000 New COVID-19 Cases

Michael Gwarisa

…As country detects new Omicron variant …Expert warns against Hard Lockdowns A total 1 042 new local cases of COVID-19 were recorded last night, signalling the arrival of a fourth wave that many public health experts fear could be more devastating compared to previous waves due to the absence of adequate healthcare personal to attend to hospitalisations and severe cases. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s (MoHCC) daily situation report of December, 2 2021, 80 of the new 1042 are cases were detected from…

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Zimbabwe Records First Omicron Variant Linked Case

Michael Gwarisa

Zimbabwe has confirmed the presence of the Omicron variant in the country, making it the third Southern African country to have conformed the strain after South Africa and Botswana. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking on national Television, Vice President, Dr Constantino Chiwenga, who is also Zimbabwe’s Health and Child Care Minister did not however indicate the number of cases linked to the new coronavirus strain. We are now in a particularly dangerous period once again, where the fourth wave is slowly visiting us with the identification of the B.1.1.529 or the…

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Fulfilling Our Promise to adolescents and young people

Healthtimes

My years of work in HIV prevention have taught me a few things. Among them, one of the important things I have learnt is that if people do not know how to protect themselves or how to access treatment, they will not be able to prevent HIV or lead happy and fulfilling lives with HIV. Therefore, information and education is key. But its not the only thing needed. I might have the information that unsafe sex may expose me to HIV or other STIs, but I may still go ahead…

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“Without Sufficient Domestic Financing, Forget About Ending AIDS By 2030,” –HIV Advocates

Patricia Mashiri

ENDING AIDS by 2030 remains a pipedream for Zimbabwe if the current scenario whereby majority of funding for healthcare if coming from international donor organizations, top HIV and AIDS advocates have said. By Patricia Mashiri Zimbabwe has made significant strides towards reducing new HIV infections and deaths over the years through support from global partners such as the PEPFAR, The Global Fund (GF) and others. However, emerging health issues such as the COVID-19 coupled with donor fatigue could see donors gradually shifting focus towards other issues. Addressing a 2021 World…

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Fighting HIV in the Midst of COVID-19 – Consolidating Gains, Increasing Investments!

Healthtimes

JUST as was the case in 2020, we commemorate this year’s World Aids Day (WAD) in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, is likely to shadow this year’s commemorations. The drowning of HIV by COVID-19 is likely to shift political attention and financing away from efforts to consolidate the gains made in the fight against HIV over the years. By Paul Sixpence As we commemorate this year’s WAD and contend with COVID-19, we should never lose sight of our collective obligation to…

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World AIDS Day 2021 – Message of WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti

Healthtimes

As we come together with the global community on 1 December to mark World AIDS Day, this year’s theme “End inequalities. End AIDS. End pandemic” has particular resonance nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot express enough our support for those living with HIV, especially within a context where we know that treatment and care have been negatively impacted across Africa by the demands of COVID-19. As we remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS this year, we also acknowledge the terrible death toll the coronavirus…

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President Mnangagwa Announces New COVID-19 Regulations For Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

PRESIDENT Emerson Mnangagwa has announced a raft of new measures as means to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections amidst indications of a surge in daily cases over the past few days. Staff Reporter The new development also follows the discovery of a new Coronavirus strain, the Omicron variant which contains numerous mutations sparking fears of it being highly infections even though available data is yet to confirm such. Measures include: All returning residents to undergo PCR test and Quarantine at their own expense even with a negative PCR test.…

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