Month: December 2022

What kind of year will you be having?

Healthtimes

By Luke Gomes, Cluster Manager, Nestlé east and southern Africa region 2023 is just around the corner. For many people, a new year usually signifies a new beginning. It can be taking the first steps to achieving your dream or maybe setting health goals such as a healthier diet, losing weight, or starting an exercise routine. But are you ready to make the most out of the year? Here’s the truth, many of our new year’s resolutions don’t just happen without a bit of preparation and planning. For nearly everyone,…

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Hetero bags first world WHO prequalification of medicines programme generic version of Pfizer’s Covid-19 oral drug

Kuda Pembere

A leading global pharmaceutical manufacturer Hetero Group emerged the first company in the world to be accorded the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) prequalification of medicines programme (WHO-PQ) for its generic version of Covid-19 oral antiviral treatment candidate Nirmatrelvir. This antiviral with Ritonavir is used as part of Pfizer’s Paxlovid. The company said it, “will be rolling out its generic combi-pack under the NIRMACOM brand that will contain 150mg tablets of Nirmatrelvir and 100mg tablets of Ritonavir.” The WHO deemed the drug, Nirmatrelvir, the best option for high risk patients. “This…

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Zim losing US$163 million to mental health disorders per year

Kuda Pembere

Lack of support for mental health issues is costing Zimbabwe US$163 million annually, a leading psychologist said on Wednesday noting more money could be saved if funding or investment in interventions is availed by Government, private sector and technical funders. By Kudakwashe Pembere Speaking on the sidelines of the Abused Substances Diagnostics and Management (ASDM) launch, Dr Gwatirera Javangwe in the Department of Applied Psychology at the University of Zimbabwe told HealthTimes the country is losing a lot of money due to the huge burden of mental health issues. “Currently…

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Feli Nandi uses music to fight early child marriages

Michael Gwarisa

HAVING been married when she was around the age of 18 herself, songstress Felistas “Feli Nandi” Chipendo believes the world can be a better place if and when the girl child is allowed to be in school longer and if she is not rushed into marriage for any reason. By Michael Gwarisa According to UNICEF data, child marriage remains widespread in Zimbabwe and one woman out of every three was married before the age of 18. In Zimbabwe, some of the major drivers of child marriages include poverty, lack of…

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PSH Launches “Give Me A Chance” Campaign against Early Child Marriages

Michael Gwarisa

IN a bid to end the growing burden of Early Child Marriages that have seen girls dropping out of school and widening the opportunities gap between boys and girls, the Population Solutions for Health (PSH) through funding from the Embassy of Sweden, has launched the “Give Me A Chance,” an Anti-Child Marriages campaign in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa in Zvimba Besides being a national media campaign, the “Give Me A Chance” campaign is being implemented in three districts namely Uzumba, Maramba Pfungwe (UMP), Zvimba and Rushinga in partnership with the…

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Abortion is not illegal but restricted in Zimbabwe

Memory Kadau

By Memory Pamella Kadau Zimbabwe’s Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP) provides a legal framework on when and how can women and girls access safe abortion services. The Act provides only three grounds under which pregnancy can be lawfully terminated in the country.  It further provides that pregnancies can only be terminated by a registered medical practitioner and authorized by a court order. However, these grounds are very narrow and result in a many women and girls seeking unsafe abortions every year which expose them to health complications and death. The…

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Zim Launches Family Planning Strategy 2022-2026

Kuda Pembere

Zimbabwe on Friday asserted its Family Planning 2030 commitments among them to ensure a zero unmet need for family planning methods while launching the country’s National Family Planning Strategy 2022-2026 blueprint. By Kudakwashe Pembere Officiating the launch, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga said strategy is anchored on Government seeing family planning and sexual reproduction as key human rights. Today, we reiterate our full commitment to the family planning and contraceptive service programme. While sustaining and consolidating the gains we have made, we are therefore…

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Breaking: Zim flags skin bleaching products

Kuda Pembere

ZIMBABWE’S medical products regulator, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has warned against the sale and use of unregistered skin lightening products in the country. By Kudakwashe Pembere Better known as bleaching in the public sphere, Zimbabweans have been using desperate yet unorthodox means to lighten their skin leaving them exposed to a long thread of undesired side effects. They have been administering products such as oral or injectable Glutathione and injectable Vitamins which the Authority flagged after finding no supporting guidelines for proper dosages and length of treatment.…

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Lois Chingandu appointed Interim Executive Director of Frontline AIDS

Healthtimes

Lois Chingandu will be stepping in as the Interim Executive Director of Frontline AIDS in January 2023, having successfully worked as our Director of Evidence and Influence since 2019, the Frontline AIDS has announced. Lois will be joined by Divya Bajpai, Director of Programmes and Partnerships, who will be acting as Deputy Executive Director during this interim period.  The appointments follow Christine Stegling’s move to UNAIDS as Deputy Executive Director, where she will lead the new Policy, Advocacy and Knowledge branch. UNAIDS is a vital partner in Frontline AIDS’ work,…

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SASA Project Records Gains from Partnering Chiefs in Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls

Michael Gwarisa

WHILE Chiefs have traditionally been blamed for preserving harmful cultural practices that perpetuate abuse of women and girls, the SASA project being implemented by the Zimbabwe Association of Church related Hospitals (ZACH) has managed to rope in chiefs and other traditional leaders as allies in ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in communities. By Michael Gwarisa SASA stands for Start Awareness Support Action (SASA) and ZACH is implementing the program in eight hot spot districts (Chimanimani, Mguza, Kwekwe and Umzingwane] plus 4 additional hot spot districts). Speaking during the…

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