Lockdown Sees Spike In Unsafe Abortions In Guruve

Michael Gwarisa

RECURRING COVID-19 lockdown measures and a prolonged period outside learning institutions has resulted in increased Early Unintended Pregnancies (EUPs) in young adolescent girls, leading to a record spike in unsafe abortions amongst the 12- to 24-year-old age groups in Guruve, Mashonaland Central. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Guruve In Zimbabwe, abortion or termination of pregnancy is only permissible if the pregnancy poses a risk or threat to the life and health of the mother and child and also if the pregnancy is as a result of rape or incest. However,…

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Acute health needs in Afghanistan must be urgently addressed and health gains protected

Healthtimes

Statement by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, and Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean on their visit to Kabul We recently completed a high level mission to Kabul, Afghanistan, where we met with senior members of the Taliban leadership, UN partners, health care workers and patients, and WHO staff. Afghanistan’s health system is on the brink of collapse. Unless urgent action is taken, the country faces an imminent humanitarian catastrophe. Our visit allowed us to witness the immediate needs of the…

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MSF Turns Heat On Global Leaders To Ensure Equitable Vaccines Distribution

Michael Gwarisa

THE Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is capitalising on the ongoing United Nations (UN) General Assembly to pressure leading global leaders and vaccines manufacturers to remove restrictions on vaccines access for low and middle income countries. By Michael Gwarisa Dr. Maria Guevara, the MSF International Medical Secretary who is attending the UN general assembly  highlighted the urgent need for concrete  actions that should be taken to turn a corner on the COVID-19 pandemic. The global response to the pandemic has failed to deliver equal and equitable access to date, with the…

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Full Economy Opening Premised On Vaccination- Mthuli Ncube

Patricia Mashiri
Prof Mthuli Ncube

THE Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mtuli Ncube has called on Zimbabweans to get vaccinated for the economy to fully open up. By Patricia Mashiri Speaking during a Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 vaccination program on Zimpapers Television Network, Prof Ncube said there was no reason for Zimbabweans to shun vaccination as government procured millions of vaccine doses towards that cause. Vaccination strategy in Zimbabwe is also an economic recovery strategy. We can only open up the economy safely if everyone is safe, if people will not infect each other. Therefore,…

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Red Cross Partners ZITF In health and First Aid Services

Healthtimes

Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) has once again partnered with the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) through provision of free health and first aid services with the organisation providing COVID 19 vaccinations at this year’s edition of the annual business showcase. Own Correspondant In support of the government accelerated and decentralised vaccination drive, the ZRCS has deployed a team of medical doctors and nurses who are providing COVID 19 vaccinations for free within the exhibition centre, bringing the much-needed services closer to the people who might have missed an opportunity…

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Youth Engage Trains 70 Adolescents Girls & Young Women On HIV, SRHR

Patricia Mashiri

Youth Engage Zimbabwe, in partnership with her Her Voice Fund and Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research Health (ZiCHIRe), have kick-started HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) training for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW). By Patricia Mashiri The inaugural training was held in Harare South where a total 70 AGYW aged between 15 to 27 were trained while more other trainings are already lined up for other parts of the country.The trainings are meant to increase utilization of equitable SRHR and HIV services by vulnerable AGYW, improve delivery of…

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Gvt Institutes Measures To Contain COVID-19 In Schools

Healthtimes

CABINET has announced a raft of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in schools following indications that schools have become the latest COVID-19 hotspots. HealthTimes Reporter Briefing Journalists during a post-Cabinet Media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting services minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the number of cases recorded went up to 1 669 this week and the education sector contributed significantly to this increase. Government has, therefore, instituted the following measures to contain the COVID-19 surge in schools,” she said. Some of the measures include: enhancement of surveillance and…

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UK Aid Cut On Global AIDS Response Deals Major Blow To AIDS Progress

Healthtimes

A new report has warned that the world is gradually sleepwalking towards a new AIDS emergency  following the United Kingodom’s decision to cut its level of official development assistance from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income. Health Reporter According to the report titled, Jeopardising Progress: Impact of UK Government AIDS Cuts on HIV/AIDS Worldwide, there is urgent need for action to get the HIV response back on track. The report also shows how COVID-19 has disrupted HIV services, leading to significant declines in HIV testing and referrals to treatment…

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Cholera kills over 2,300 in Nigeria’s Worst Outbreak In Years

Michael Gwarisa

Cholera has killed more than 2,300 people and infected thousands more, mostly children, in Nigeria since the start of the year, a senior health official said on Monday, in the nation’s worst outbreak in years. SOURCE: MEDICALEXPRESS Africa’s most populous nation suffers from a high rate of water-borne diseases as a result of dilapidated infrastructure and under-investment.` As at September 5, 2021, a total of 69,925 suspected cases, including 2,323 deaths, have been reported,” Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) head of communications, Yahya Disu, told AFP. Health sector sources…

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Closure Of Schools Not An Option

Patricia Mashiri

EVEN though the country has begun recorded pockets of new infections especially in schools, it is  not wise to close schools at the moment, Public Health Experts have warned. By Patricia Mashiri Schools especially in Mbereengwa have been recording new COVD-19 infections of late, prompting some parents to push for closure of the schools before the situation spirals out of control. However, local health experts believe the situation was still under control and there was no need for halting studies. Speaking to HealthTimes, Mr Itai Rusike, the Executive Director for…

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