Month: April 2021

High Prevalence Of infertility In sub-Saharan Africa

Healthtimes

SUB-SAHARAN Africa has a high infertility prevalence compared to developed countries such as the UK and USA, an expert says. By Kudakwashe Pembere This was revealed by a Ghanaian fertility specialist Dr Ekem Hiadzi during a media training workshop which was part of the Merck Foundation Community Awareness Program. According to a WHO report from 1987 infertility is the failure of a couple to achieve a pregnancy after 1 year of unprotected intercourse. Primary infertility is if pregnancy has never occurred while secondary is if there has been a preceding…

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Women And Girls Need Post COVID-19 Support

Patricia Mashiri

THE COVID-19 pandemic has further widened existing social and economic inequalities between women and men, leaving women and girls prone to Gender Based Violations (GBV) and other societal ills, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) championing women and girls rights have said. By Patricia Mahsiri Speaking during a virtual meeting on the Impact of COVID-19 Stimulus Packages in Zimbabwe on GBV Interventions, Tawanda Zimhunga, Deputy Director Protection Services, Ministry of Public Service Labor and Social Services said when households and communities are placed under pressure, the risk of multiple forms of violence…

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Sinopharm Suits Zimbabwe’s Cold Chain Capacity

Michael Gwarisa

UNLIKE other COVID-19 vaccines that were developed using  the Messenger Ribonucleic Acids (M-RNA) technology, vaccines manufactured using a killed/inactivated virus such as the Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN currently being administered in Zimbabwe do not require expensive subzero cold-chain infrastructure. By Michael Gwarisa The messenger RNA technology was deployed in the Pfizer, Mordena and other vaccines, making such vaccines unsuitable for hot climatic conditions such as the one in Zimbabwean unless the country installs a costly deep freeze airport warehouse, procures and modifies refrigerated vehicles and inoculation points to ensure the…

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Zimbabwe Launches Private Sector COVID-19 Vaccination Program

Michael Gwarisa

A Private Sector COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, an initiative to assist Government in its mass vaccination drive, has been launched in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa The program will assist in halting the rapid spread of COVID-19 by achieving herd immunity through having at least 60% of the population vaccinated against COVID-19. Under Zimbabwe’s Private Sector COVID-19 Vaccination initiative, the vaccines were acquired through government and will be dispensed through Cimas clinics countrywide. Officiating at launch of the Private Sector COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, Health and Child Care Deputy Ministry, Dr John Mangwiro…

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Local NGO Champions Fight Against Child Ritual Killings

Patricia Mashiri

MWANACHIPO Africa Trust, a local Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has initiated the Stop Child Sacrifice: 777 campaign  in an effort to curb the surgeing ritual kills that have been on the increase of late. By Patricia Mashiri The campaign is in remembrance of Tapiwa Makore (7) of Murehwa who was brutally murdered and decapitated by his uncle and also Delan and Melissa Benza of Mutasa both aged 7 who were also murdered with information pointing to their uncle. In an interview with HealthTimes, Heaven Munyuki the Executive Board Chairman of…

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COVID-19 Leads To Spike In Respiratory And Spectacles Medical Aid Claims In Zim

Michael Gwarisa

THE Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ), which is the umbrella body for all medical aid companies in Zimbabwe says there has been an upsurge in respiratory and Eye related medical aid claims during the COVID-19 period. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual meeting recently, AHFoZ Chief Executive Officer, Ms Shylet Sanyanga said, “In terms of the impact of COVID-19, we noticed that since the beginning of the pandemic and since the first case was diagnosed here in Zimbabwe, there has been an increase of respiratory related claims…

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17,000 Arrested In One Week For Breaking COVID-19 Regulations In Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

A total 17, 727 arrests were made countrywide during the over the past seven days for flouting the various lockdown regulations, bringing the total  arrested so far to 607 386. Staff Reporter Briefing Journalists during a Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa warned citizens against disregarding COVID-19 Law enforcement agents are intensifying efforts to curb the re-emergence of illegal transport operators. Seventeen thousand seven hundred and twenty seven (17 727) arrests were made countrywide during the week under review for flouting the various…

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Merck Foundation Aims To Bridge Specialist Gap In Africa And Asia

Healthtimes

MERCK Foundation trained over 1 100 medical practitioners from Africa and Asia to bridge the gap of shortage of health personnel in some countries. By Kudakwashe Pembere On the back of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, most of these trainings were done virtually. This was said by Merck Foundation CEO Senator Dr Rasha Kelej during her organisation’s inaugural session of the 8th Edition of the ”MERCK FOUNDATION AFRICA ASIA LUMINARY” 2021 Online Videoconference. I would to assure that as Merck foundation we have trained 350 doctors across 35 countries in Africa…

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#NewsInBrief: Court Releases Dr Manangazira’s Passport

NewsRoom

MINISTRY of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Director Epidemiology Services, Dr Portia Manangazira who is facing nepotism  and abuse of office charges after employing 27 relatives including her father late last year, has successfully applied for the release of  her passport. NewsRoom Dr Manangazira appeared before magistrate Stamford Mambanje who released her passport to allow her to travel to Zambia on a business trip.  

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Boost For Sally Mugabe Hospital Maternity Division

Patricia Mashiri

STANBIC Bank has purchased equipment to resuscitate operating procedures at the institution’s maternity maternity wing and also refurbished its recovery room at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in an initiative to rescue the dire situation for expecting mothers. By Patricia Mashiri The initiative is part of Stanbic Bank’s Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and aims to facilitate the growth and sustainable development of public health services in Zimbabwe. Speaking during the handover ceremony, Solomon Nyanhongo, Stanbic Bank Chief Executive (CEO) said the donation by Stanbic Bank  was part of their flagship…

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