Day: February 1, 2022

Bias-driven travel bans are an ineffective response to variants

Healthtimes

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 1st February 2022-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- The knee-jerk travel bans imposed late last year in response to Omicron were inconvenient for many – particularly given the holiday season. But they were also deeply destructive: separating families and loved ones; undercutting businesses and livelihoods; and causing further economic losses. By Linda Weaver While most countries have lifted the restrictions, the ripple effects will continue to be felt for months to come. And it is important that we understand the costs, so that we exercise greater care as we…

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Huge volumes of COVID hospital waste threaten health – WHO

Healthtimes

GENEVA (Reuters) – Discarded syringes, used test kits and old vaccine bottles from the COVID-19 pandemic have piled up to create tens of thousands of tonnes of medical waste, threatening human health and the environment, a World Health Organization report said on Tuesday. The material, a portion of which could be infectious since coronavirus can survive on surfaces, potentially exposes health workers to burns, needle-stick injuries and disease-causing germs, the report said. Communities close to poorly-managed landfills can also be affected through contaminated air from burning waste, poor water quality…

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See Zimbabwe’s 2022 Full School Term Calendar

Healthtimes

2022 FULL SCHOOL CALENDAR: FIRST TERM Begins:  Monday, 7 February 2022 Ends: Thursday 7 April 2022 Public Holiday: One No Of School Days: 45 Exeat Weekends: None Vacation: 26 Days   SECOND TERM Begins: Tuesday 3, May 2022 Ends: Thursday 4 August 2022 Public Holidays: One No Of School Days: 69 Days Exeat Weekends: None Vacation: 30 Days   THIRD TERM Begins: Monday, 5 September 2022 Ends:Thursday 8 December, 2022 Public Holidays: None No Of School Days: 71 Days Exeat Weekends: None Vacation: 31 Days   First term2023 begins: Monday…

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Many countries struggle to provide chemotherapy drugs to their children; St. Jude wants to change that

Healthtimes

Charity Kawadza is often the one to tell parents there are no chemotherapy drugs available for their children at Parirenyatwa General Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe. None in the whole country. Kawadza is a nurse and the health promotions coordinator with KidzCan Zimbabwe, a non-governmental organization that supports the hospital’s ward for children suffering from cancer. “You know children are fighters,” she said. “They can actually survive cancer. … And now you are left with explaining to the parent — some parents will take it and understand, but other parents will…

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