Month: February 2022

Ukraian’s Medicinal Oxygen Supplies Hits Record Low…Stocks May Run Out Within 24 Hours

Michael Gwarisa

THE deteriorating political situation in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion last week has led to massive depletion of Oxygen stocks, raising fears of a health catastrophe in the midst of the prevailing war. By Michael Gwarisa In a joint statement, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO Regional Director for Europe,  Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge called for restoration of critical medical supplies to safely reach those who need them, and are working with partners to establish safe transit for shipments through Poland. The oxygen supply…

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Exploring Depression and Mental Health In The Arts Sector

Michael Gwarisa

Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please contact The Friendship Bench on +263 78 484 5294, S.A.L.T Africa, +263 773 107 7781, For Youths By Youths, Harare & Mash West 263775462468 +263773238941, Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre +263273790238 HAVE you ever come across artwork or literature of the sad clown? The sad clown is one of the most well-known paintings out there and is a paradox that tries to bring out the hidden emotional trauma and sadness that is associated with…

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Health CSOs Consortium Sets New Priorities for COP22 PEPFAR funding cycle

Healthtimes

IN the Country Operational Plan for the year 2022 (COP22), Zimbabwe’s health civil society organisations under the Advocacy Core Team (ACT) banner are embedding new health advocacy points which now qualify for funding by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). By Staff Reporter Health civil societies came up with health priorities they felt left out in the previous funding cycles by PEPFAR, some of which after relaxation of range of priorities, now qualify. Speaking to this publication on the sidelines of the COP22 CSO priorities setting meeting last…

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Zim Health Workers Declare Incapacitation

Michael Gwarisa
ZINA) president, Mr Enoch Dongo

A few days after some nurses associations went public saying they were satisfied with the conditions of services, the entire healthcare sector has written to government declaring incapacitation as a result of failure by government to honour their pledges to improve their working conditions. By Michael Gwarisa Writing to the Health Services Board (HSB) Acting Director, Mr A Mbengeranwa, health workers comprising of the Zimbabwe Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA), the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA), the Zimbabwe Government Radiographer Association (ZiGRA), Government Therapists Association (GTA), the Zimbabwe Health Workers Union…

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COVID-19 Triggers Mental Health Disorders In Zim Frontline Doctors

Michael Gwarisa

THE absence of adequate psychosocial support services coupled with discrimination from workmates and society especially for doctors who were working in the COVID-19 frontline exposed medical doctors to numerous mental health challenges at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa The report was a qualitative study to explore the experiences of medical practitioners responding to COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. Presenting findings from the Health Awareness Report study, Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) Secretary General, Dr Norman Matara said the medical sector was not spared from the…

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INTERPOL Receives IT Equipment To Help Solve Missing Zim Migrants Cases

Michael Gwarisa

…a third of missing migrants cases solved already IN a move that is set to help ease the search for missing migrant Zimbabweans, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has donated a consignment of Information Technology (IT) equipment to the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Harare. By Michael Gwarisa The consignment consists of 12 desktops, five laptops and scanners and is aimed at helping INTERPOL in the process of collecting data as well as the transmission of cases of missing and deceased migrants to INTERPOL bureaus not…

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WHO Advises CountriesTo Be Wary of Omicron’s BA.2 Sublineage

Michael Gwarisa

EVEN though there is still a reported decline in overall cases globally, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s)  Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) has cautioned that countries should remain vigilant and continue monitoring and reporting sequences, as well as conducting independent and comparative analyses of the different Omicron sublineages. By Michael Gwarisa According to available data of transmission, severity, reinfection, diagnostics, therapeutics and impacts of vaccines, the TAG-VE reinforced that the BA.2 sublineage should continue to be considered a variant of concern and that it should remain classified…

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Malin Grape Appointed AMR Ambassador For Sweden

Healthtimes

When Sweden’s Statement of Foreign Policy was presented this week, it included a new Swedish initiative of appointing an AMR Ambassador. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to global health security and claims the lives of more than one million people each year, according to a study recently published in The Lancet. By Own Correspondent “Antimicrobial resistance has long been an important issue for the Government. It is a serious and growing public health problem in Sweden and around the world. Sweden has a great deal of knowledge and…

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Zim COVID-19 New Cases and Hospitalisations On The Increase

Healthtimes

THE number of new coronaries cases have doubled over the past seven days, leading to a rise in hospitalizations over the same period, the Zimbabwean cabinet has warned. By Staff Reporter Briefing Journalists during Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Acting Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Joram Gumbo said, “As of 21 February, 2022, Zimbabwe’s cumulative COVID-19 cases stood at 233 352, with 224 940 recoveries and 5 386 deaths. The recovery rate stood at 96%, with 929 active cases having been recorded. The number of new COVID-19 cases increased to…

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#BREAKING: Zimbabwe To Extend Vaccination To 12 and 15 Year Olds

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwean cabinet has announced plans to vaccinate 12 and 15 year olds as part of plans to expand the vaccination program and attain herd immunity as the COID-19 pandemic gradually transforms into an endemic. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes a few months after government extended vaccination to 16 year olds. Briefing Journalists during a Post Cabinet Media Briefing in Harare, Joram Gumbo, the acting information minister said. “Based on advise from the paediatric association of Zimbabwe special COVID-19 vaccine group, and therefore has resolved to extend COVID-19 vaccination…

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