CWGH Salutes Zim Front-line Health Workers Fighting COVID-19

THE Community Working Group On Health (CWGH) has paid tribute to health workers at the forefront of the COVID-19 battle despite Zimbabwe’s health delivery system being in shambles. By Michael Gwarisa In their workers day solidarity day message, CWGH Executive Director Mr Itai Rusike said it was high time government recognizes health workers and pay meaningful and livable wages. This year’s national Worker’s Day theme; “Stop Covid-19 Pandemic: Scale up social protection and dialogue, save jobs and pay a living wage”, befits the current environment which emphasizes stopping the spread…

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STANBIC JOINS THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

LEADING financial services institution, Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, has put its shoulder on the wheel in the fight against Covid-19 by pledging an assortment of the much-needed equipment worth US$200 000. HealthTimes Reporter The Standard Bank Group subsidiary is geared to donate a total of 5 ventilators; 32 500 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in the form of suits, masks, face shields and goggles; 2 400 PCR tests, 3 000 sanitizer bottles and 2 boreholes which will be drilled in two selected high-density suburbs of Bulawayo and Harare. Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Head…

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Call To Investigate China & WHO Over COVID-19 Spread Justified Says US Ambassador To Zim

CHINA was not sincere in reporting its Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections when the pandemic broke out in Wuhan, hence the need for a probe into China and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) hand in the prevailing global health crisis, United States (US) envoy to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Brian Nicholas has said. By Michael Gwarisa ` Ambassador Nicholas said this during an interview with ZIFM Stereo, a local radio station. He said President Donal Trump was justified to call for an inquest into China and the WHO as they both did not act…

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Traditional Healers Call For Collaboration With Scientists To Fight COVID-19

ZIMBABWE National Practitioners Association (ZINPA) president, Mr Friday Chishanyu has called for genuine collaboration between traditional medicines practitioners and scientists in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic which has wreaked havoc across the globe. By Michael Gwarisa According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, 80 percent of the global population rely on traditional medicines for treatment and 80 percent of Zimbabwe’s population also rely on indigenous medicines. In an interview with HealthTimes, Mr Chishanyu  said even though they can’t claim to have a cure for COVID-19, a number of…

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WHO Lauds Zim’s Broad Case Definition Criteria

THE World Health Organisation Zimbabwe Office has commended the nation for reviewing the case definition to trace as many people for testing. By HealthTimes Reporter The WHO Zimbabwe Country Representative Dr Alex Gasasira said in an interview that Zimbabwe can increase its testing capacity through this measure. In fact I would say the number of cases started increasing because the protocol that Zimbabwe is using for testing has been broadened. Recently the Ministry of Health and Child Care increased the number of people who need to be tested,” he said.…

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OPHID Intensifies Fight Against Double Burden of HIV & COVID-19 In Zimbabwe

THE Organisation for Public Health Inventions and Development (OPHID) has ramped up efforts to combat the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Zimbabwe through provision of Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) as well as Antiretroviral Treatment drugs reshipments  for those living with HIV inside COVID-19 isolation centres. By Michael Gwarisa OPHID is one of the three clinical partners that have been selected by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to implement CIVID-19 related interventions from the recent US$150 000 PEPFAR grant. OPHID has also set up satellite…

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COVID-19 Pandemic Could Leave 47 Million Women Without Access To Contraceptives Says UNFPA

Young Preganant Women

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) a United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency has predicted a calamitous impact on women’s health as COVID-19 pandemic continues amidst indications that globally, more than 47 million women could lose access to contraception, leading to 7 million unintended pregnancies in the coming months. By Michael Gwarisa As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, the number of women unable to access family planning, facing unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence and other harmful practices could skyrocket by millions of cases in the months ahead, according to data…

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COVID-19 Is For Those In Cities Says Buhera Villagers

VILLAGERS in Buhera central have turned a deaf ear to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for a 35 days national lockdown citing that the disease was not a poor man’s problem but that of the rich and urban dwellers. By Edson Mapani In Bhuhera President Mnanagwa announced a national lockdown which commenced on March 30, 2020 to curb the spread of the virus which has already claimed four lives and infected 32 people in Zimbabwe. However, villagers in Buhera Central Constituency are defying lockdown measures as they publicly gather imbibing traditional…

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Gvt Warns Unregistered Covid-19 Testing Facilities

Government has warned unregistered health institutions testing for Covid-19 and operating unapproved isolation centres to stop the practice and follow laid down procedures in line with provisions of the Public Health Act.   Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Agnes Mahomva, said some private health institutions had already declared themselves Covid-19 testing and isolation centres without approval from the Ministry of Health.  She advised such institutions to follow the process of approval first. “The Ministry has learned and noticed that some private facilities that have…

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Zimbabwe Rated As one Of The World’s Top Global Food Crises In New UN Report

ZIMBABWE remains in the grip of severe food insecurity, with millions of people already requiring humanitarian assistance due to prolonged drought, climate-related shocks, economic deterioration and the situation set to worsen as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, according to the new Global Food Crisis Report Forecast (GFCRF). HealthTimes Correspondent The joint report, released by the European Union, FAO, OCHA, UNICEF, USAID and WFP anticipates a worsening food insecurity situation in 2020 with an estimated 4.3 million rural Zimbabweans, including children, are in need of urgent action. On top of environmental factors,…

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