Month: November 2019

Doctors Defy Govt Ultimatum

Healthtimes

WITH the doctors’ industrial action inching 90 days, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association find the moratorium offered by government a high sounding nothing coming without a reasonable offer to the table. By Kudakwashe Pembere In a statement, ZHDA said to them, the moratorium lacked substance. “We appreciate the role played by the Catholic bishops which has resulted in the doctors being issued a moratorium, valid for the next 48hrs. Sadly the moratorium has come without a new offer on the table having been communicated to us. “Should this moratorium lapse…

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Zim Only Pelvis Ortho Surgeon Faces Dismissal

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S sole pelvis orthopedic surgeon has been served with hearing summons by the Health Service Board  which he is likely going to abscond. By HealthTimes Reporter He is among the 57 senior hospital doctors that were charged for not going to work. “Zim’s only pelvis ortho surgeon has just received his letter to come for a hearing,” Zimbabwe Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) wrote on their twitter account, adding “He is not attending, Consider him fired. Welldone Dr Obadiah Moyo.” The senior doctors are demanding for the reinstatement of 488…

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Chinhoyi One Stop Centre For GBV Survivors Launched

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has launched the One Stop center for  survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Chinhoyi in an effort to improve access to services for survivors of Gender Based Violence By Michael Gwarisa The GBV One-stop centre is part of the Zero Tolerance for GBV 365 National programme and has been birthed from a partnership between the UNFPA, the governments of Britain, Ireland, Sweden and the European Unione (EU) through support from the ministry of Gender and Community development. Speaking at the launch, UNFPA country…

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Higherlife Foundation Launches ZW$100 million Fellowship For Zim Doctors

Healthtimes

HIGHERLIFE Foundation has launched a ZW$100 million training fellowship for junior and senior medical resident officers employed at public health institutions in Zimbabwe. By Kudakwashe Pembere Eligible for the fellowship are Joshua Nkomo Capernaum Trust alumni and non-alumni. HLF said the $100 million fellowship will last for six months, with funding contingent upon fellows remaining enrolled in their programmes for that period and satisfying the stipulated requirements. “The $100 million fellowship comprises a non-negotiable monthly subsistence allowance of $5 000 (five thousand Zimbabwean dollars) per doctor for a maximum of…

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Harare Pregnant Women To Pay ZW$1 900 For Caesarean Section

Healthtimes

EXPECTING mothers requiring caesarean section at Harare City Health facilities will now have to cough up ZW$1 877. By Kudakwashe Pembere The previous charge for this procedure was pegged at ZW$525. Presenting the 2020 Harare City Budget, Council’s finance and development committee chairperson Mr Luckson Mukunguma said other charges remain unchanged. “Hospital and clinic fees will remain as per 2019 rate to promote access to health by all except for caesarean section fees, which have been increased to ensure effective service delivery in this particular area. It is expected that…

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Senior Doctors Summoned For Disciplinary Hearings

Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT has summoned at least 57 senior doctors who downed tools yesterday demanding the reinstatement of the 488 junior doctors who have been fired by government to date. By Michael Gwarisa Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) president Dr Shingai Nyaguse told HealthTimes this morning that government was not acting in good faith but was instead pursuing retribution. Instead of addressing our concerns, they have summoned senior doctors to disciplinary hearings instead. It is unfortunate that they have focused on the punitive disciplinary measures and have done nothing to address the…

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Gendered Corruption In Health Sector, Women Bear The Brunt

Michael Gwarisa

HEALTH sector corruption has over the years been swept under the carpet and in most cases, citizens tend to turn a blind eye to its existence. By Michael Gwarisa However, evidence gathered by the Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) indicate that health sector corruption  comes in different facets and is an everyday occurrence and affects women the most. Corruption is defined by Transparency International as the “Misuse of entrusted power for private gain.” Corruption in most cases occur when public officials who have been given authority and a goal which further…

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#BREAKING: Seniors Doctors Strike…Order Gvt To Reinstate All Fired Doctors

Michael Gwarisa

SENIOR Doctors who had remained behind offering medical services to patients at Parirenyatwa Hospital have downed tools demanding reinstatement of all fired 435 doctors. By Michael Gwarisa and Kudakwashe Pembere In a letter addressed to the Parirenyatwa Hospital Clinical Director, Dr Aspect Muanganidze, the Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) said the continued victimisation of doctors by government must stop immediately. We, the SHDA met with our members on the 25th of November 2019 and we deliberated on the myriad of challenges currently befalling the medical fraternity. We have noted with…

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Inflation Erodes AIDS Levy Collections…No ARVs Procured In 2019

Michael Gwarisa

RUNAWAY inflation coupled with skyrocketing prices for pharmaceutical products has eroded AIDS Levy collections over the past few months, making it difficult for the National Aids Council (NAC) to procure Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) drugs from foreign suppliers, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa Even though treasury gave NAC the green light to access foreign currency from banks at the prevailing Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) set interbank rate, the organisation has been struggling to purchase lifesaving drugs from foreign sources since suppliers only accept the United States Dollar (USD). Briefing…

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