By Michael Gwarisa At 16, Rita Muzadzi (Real name protected) was preparing for her Ordinary Level examinations in Epworth when she discovered she was pregnant. The boy she had been dating, also 16, rejected the pregnancy. Frightened and unsure where to turn, Rita did not tell her mother. Instead, she

By Michael Gwarisa The Global Commission on Drug Policy has called for an overhaul of drug policies affecting children and young people, warning that punitive approaches are criminalising vulnerable children, separating families and denying them access to essential healthcare. In a new policy brief, Making Children and Young People Visible

By Michael Gwarisa A mosquito capable of transmitting Zika, dengue and chikungunya has bred in residential areas of east London for the first time, raising fresh concerns about how rising temperatures could change the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. The discovery of Aedes aegypti, commonly known as the yellow fever mosquito,

By Michael Gwarisa Parliament has resumed its inquiry into Zimbabwe’s medicines supply system, with lawmakers probing the operations of the National Pharmaceutical Company of Zimbabwe (NatPharm) and questioning whether public investment in medicines is translating into reliable supplies for patients. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care, chaired

The decline is being attributed to targeted HIV and STI prevention programmes, but adolescents and young women aged 15 to 24 continue to account for a disproportionate share of new infections. By Kuda Pembere Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Harare Province have declined to fewer than 2,000 cases per quarter,

By Michael Gwarisa Two weeks ago, Cimas Health Group hosted the third edition of its Healthathon, bringing together innovators, students, health professionals and technology enthusiasts to showcase solutions to some of Zimbabwe’s healthcare challenges. Beyond the pitches, prototypes and competition for the top prize, Healthathon 3.0 offered something perhaps more

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Child Care has established a new Directorate of Medical Services as part of a restructuring exercise aimed at strengthening the coordination and delivery of specialist, emergency and surgical services. Speaking at the Surgical Society of Zimbabwe Annual Conference, Permanent Secretary in the

By Kuda Pembere HARARE Institute of Public Health (HIPH) graduates have been challenged to turn their qualifications into practical solutions that improve community health and strengthen Zimbabwe’s healthcare system. More than 700 students graduated from HIPH on Friday, including 15 students from Botswana’s Botlhale Institute of Public Health, after completing

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