Africa CDC to Convene Emergency Meeting to Review Mpox Public Health Status

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following a sustained decline in reported Mpox cases across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is set to convene an Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) meeting with experts to determine whether Mpox should still be classified as a public health emergency. In August 2024, Africa CDC declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS)—the first such declaration since the agency’s inception in 2017. However, recent evidence from contact tracing and screening interventions suggests a notable reduction in Mpox-related morbidity and mortality…

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MCAZ Recalls Captopril Tablets Used for High Blood Pressure and Heart Conditions Over Quality Concerns

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has issued a Class II recall of Torrent Captopril 25mg tablets, a widely used medication for high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart failure, due to a detected quality defect that could compromise its safety and effectiveness. The recall affects Batch B520K001, manufactured by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd of India, and is being carried out up to the retail level, including pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics. In an official statement, MCAZ Director Mr. Richard Rukwata confirmed the recall was triggered after the affected…

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ZGC, PSH Host Editors Indaba on Survivor-Sensitive Reporting of GBV, Child Marriages

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to strengthen media capacity on survivor-sensitive reporting of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and child marriages, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC), in partnership with Population Solutions for Health (PSH), hosted a half-day editors’ training workshop in Harare. The workshop drew participation from editors and senior media managers representing leading media houses including the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), the Zimpapers Group, AB Communications, Alpha Media Holdings, HealthTimes, and The NewsHawks, among others. Speaking at the event, ZGC Chairperson Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe highlighted the importance of engaging media leadership…

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PSH Adopts Social Enterprise Model to Sustain Health Services

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a strategic move to ensure long-term sustainability, Population Solutions for Health (PSH) is transforming part of its operations into income-generating ventures, positioning itself as a hybrid social enterprise amid waning international donor support. The shift comes at a time when global health programs are facing disruptions due to the withdrawal of funding from major donors, particularly the United States government. The cutbacks have forced several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that were heavily reliant on donor aid to shut down or scale back significantly. To remain operational and…

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Number of Licensed Cannabis Producers Sharply Drops from 60 to Five

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere The number of licensed producers of cannabis for medicinal and scientific use in Zimbabwe has shrunk from 60 to about 10, following the renewal of license fees. The decline follows several failed attempts at license arbitrage, a Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) top official said on Tuesday. Since the issuance of the first license in 2019, many holders have struggled to meet renewal requirements due to some of the conditions and challenges such as securing land for cultivation. License arbitrage refers to the practice of leveraging…

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Healthcare Workers in Beitbridge Trained to Provide Inclusive SRHR and HIV Services

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  A group of 18 healthcare workers, including midwives, recently underwent specialized training aimed at improving healthcare service delivery for vulnerable and marginalized populations in and around the border town of Beitbridge. The two-day workshop focused on inclusive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV, and tuberculosis (TB) services. It was spearheaded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Save the Children, Family Support Trust (FST), and Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care. The initiative also received support from the Embassy of the…

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Children in Africa Face Growing Threat from Drug-Resistant Infections, New Global Study Warns

Kuda Pembere
AMR

By Staff Reporter A sobering new study unveiled Sunday at ESCMID Global 2025 revealed that over 3 million children worldwide died in 2022 due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-related infections with nearly 660,000 of those deaths occurring in Africa alone. The findings, presented by researchers from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and global partners, highlight the devastating impact of AMR on the world’s youngest and most vulnerable, placing Africa firmly among the hardest-hit regions. Children in Africa are bearing the brunt of this growing crisis,” said Professor Joseph Harwell, Senior…

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Future of ZIMPHIA Survey Uncertain as US Freezes Research Support

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s prospects of conducting its third Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA), a crucial household-based national HIV survey, are hanging in the balance amid indications of potential funding cuts from the United States to global scientific research initiatives. Zimbabwe has already hosted two ZIMPHIA surveys—the first in 2015/2016 and the second in 2020. Both were largely funded by the United States government through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), channeled via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The 2020 survey cost approximately US$20 million…

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Daughter of the Soil” Debuts in Nairobi, Spotlighting African Women’s Leadership as a Catalyst for Change

Michael Gwarisa

Nairobi, Kenya – April 11, 2025: The Alliance for Women and Girls (AFWAG) has officially premiered Daughter of the Soil: Sowing Seeds of Hope, a powerful new documentary that reframes African women’s leadership as a strategic driver of global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Directed by award-winning Zimbabwean filmmaker Kudzai Tinago of Tigzozo Media, the film follows the compelling personal and professional journey of Dr. Vongai Nyahunzvi, Founder and CEO of AFWAG. From her childhood in Norton, Zimbabwe, to her continent-wide mission to dismantle barriers for women and…

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SAYWHAT Trains 40 Youth-led Organizations On Advocacy and Governance

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Forty youth-led organizations from across Zimbabwe have been in Harare since Tuesday, participating in training on advocacy, governance, and monitoring and evaluation. The training, organized by SAYWHAT, was initiated in response to the realization that many youth organizations were not reaching their full potential due to a lack of adequate skills. Speaking at the closing ceremony on Friday, Mr. Osward Mudhunguyo, Director of Youth Empowerment in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, said the training demonstrated a strong commitment to empowering youth to contribute…

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