How Masvingo’s Health Facilities Are Giving Sex Workers a Lifeline Amid Donor Cuts

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Masvingo She is nine months pregnant and could give birth any day now, yet Melody Mhlanga* still sells sex to survive. The 25-year-old from Gutu, Masvingo Province, found herself thrust into the world of sex work three months ago after her marriage collapsed. With no income, no support, and a baby on the way, she saw no other path. “I joined sex work three months ago when my marriage crumbled,” she says, her voice trembling. “I didn’t have any source of income, and I needed to…

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Op-ed: Adolescents and young people today, leaders tomorrow: commemorating the Day of the African Child

Healthtimes

Authored by: Mr Henry Damisoni, UNAIDS Representative, Ms Etona Ekole, UNICEF Representative,  Mrs Miranda Tabifor, UNFPA Representative, Dr. Desta Tiruneh, WHO Representative In a local health clinic in Zimbabwe, Patience, a nurse and midwife, counsels and supports women and girls on a daily basis – some who are trying to prevent a pregnancy, those who are soon to become first-time mothers, and others who are living with HIV and seek to take care of themselves and their partners.  This is a new generation of young people and adolescents, who yearn for a…

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Prioritizing Zimbabwe’s Children future in an uncertain time for Global Aid

Healthtimes

By Etona Ekole One of the greatest joys of my work is meeting Zimbabwean children—bright, resilient, and full of dreams. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing how a school meal, a safe classroom, or a kind health worker can transform a child’s life. However, with every success story, I see the urgent needs that remain—a child too small for their age due to stunting, a girl missing school due to lack of menstrual health services, a baby dying due to preventable disease. These moments are a sobering reminder that while…

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Father first, miner Second: Why a Gwanda artisanal miner puts family before all

Healthtimes

The now 44-year-old Zibusiso Ndlovu was only 19 when he came to Tshebetshebe, Gwanda in 2001 to explore the ‘golden’ opportunities offered in the gold mining sector in Zimbabwe. He was full of hope at a time Zimbabwe was experiencing serious economic challenges that led to high inflation and job losses. With the fear of losing his job and the little income he was getting at the end of each month weighing heavily on him, Zibusiso decided to leave his general hand job at one of the foreign-owned commercial gold…

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Zimbabwe Wraps Up Essential Health Services Project Strengthening District Facilities

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The curtain has come down on the Zimbabwe COVID-19 Response and Essential Health Services Project (ZCREHSP), following the successful renovation and equipping of 25 district health facilities across the country. The project was funded by the World Bank and implemented by Cordaid on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Child Care. The upgraded districts include Gokwe South, Munene Mission, Murambinda, Marange, Hauna, Mashoko Mission, Chikombedzi, Musiso Mission, Matibi Mission, Chidamoyo, Sanyati, Father O’Hea, Siakobvu, Sadza, Mutoko, Mutawatawa, Nhowe Mission, Chitsungo Mission, Marymount, St Alberts, Mt Darwin,…

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Sweden Reaffirms Commitment to SRHR and Drug Abuse Programs in Zimbabwe Amid Global Geopolitical Priorities

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Despite being heavily engaged in the geopolitical conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Sweden says it remains steadfast in supporting Zimbabwe’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) initiatives, as well as drug and substance abuse programs. This assurance was given by the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden to Zimbabwe, Dag Sundelin, during an interview with the press on the sidelines of National Sweden Day last week. “We haven’t changed at all when it comes to our priorities on SRHR. So, it’s still gender…

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AI Revolution in Healthcare: UK and Zimbabwe Unite to Drive Smart Health Systems

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a powerful convergence of global innovation and local ambition, the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and University College London (UCL) recently concluded a groundbreaking three-day workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and health, aimed at reimagining healthcare delivery in Africa. Held at the UZ Innovation Hub, the event brought together top academics, health professionals, researchers, and policymakers — all aligned on one message: AI is no longer a futuristic concept — it is already reshaping lives and saving them. UK Development Director Jo Abbot, in her keynote address,…

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Zimbabwe Authorities Warn Against Illegal Use of Ozempic as Weight-Loss “Skinny Jab”

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) and the Health Professions Authority (HPA) have issued a stern warning to the public against the illegal sale, purchase, and use of the prescription drug Ozempic—popularly known as the “skinny jab”—amid rising reports of its misuse for weight loss purposes. Originally developed and approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, Ozempic has recently gained attention for its off-label use as a rapid weight-loss solution. However, authorities caution that unsupervised use of the drug poses serious health risks and could…

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After Years Stuck at 10%, Zimbabwe’s Medical Aid Coverage Crashes to Just 4%

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Health insurance coverage in Zimbabwe has declined to a historic low, with new data revealing that only four percent of the country’s population is currently covered by any form of medical aid. This comes after more than a decade in which the national coverage rate stagnated at around 10 percent, raising fresh concerns about the accessibility and affordability of healthcare in the country. The figures are drawn from the latest Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), which paints a stark picture of declining health insurance coverage across…

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CWGH Welcomes Appointment of Maternal & Perinatal Death Review Committee

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has welcomed the appointment of the 2025–2028 Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) National Steering Committee by the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora. The newly appointed committee is expected to play a crucial role in reviewing maternal and perinatal deaths and recommending urgent national actions to reduce preventable fatalities. The MPDSR Committee, first established in 2015, is tasked with identifying key trends and systemic weaknesses contributing to maternal and newborn deaths, and offering strategic…

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