Month: March 2023

COVID-19 Vaccination Fatigue Hits Zimbabwean Communities

Kuda Pembere

VACCINE Fatigue in Zimbabwe has been attributed to the myths and misconceptions peddled in communities which has resulted in many fearing the vaccine more than the COVID-19 disease. By Kuda Pembere While Zimbabwe is still witnessing some COVID-19 infections, the uptake for vaccines has been less than desirable. Speaking to Journalsts during Science Café organized by the Health Communicators Forum in imbabwe (HCF),  Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive chairperson, Ms Maria Chiwera told journalists that lack of information on the disease coupled vaccine hesitancy had slowed down uptake…

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Licensed Zim Medicinal Cannabis Producers Getting Big Headed

Kuda Pembere

SOME players who received licenses  to produce Medicinal Cannabis four years ago are reportedly skirting some of the legal provisions in their operations such as informing the health ministry permanent secretary before commencing production of the cannabis. By Kuda Pembere With the industry fairly in its infancy stage, MCAZ has since licensed 59 players for the production of medicinal cannabis. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an MCAZ-medicinal cannabis producers interface workshop, the regulator’s Director General Mr Richard Rukwata said during inspections they noted the players have been…

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WHO certifies Azerbaijan and Tajikistan as malaria-free

Michael Gwarisa

A total of 42 countries or territories have reached the malaria-free milestone The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Azerbaijan and Tajikistan for achieving elimination of malaria in their territories. The certification follows a sustained, century-long effort to stamp out the disease by the two countries. “The people and governments of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have worked long and hard to eliminate malaria,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Their accomplishment is further proof that, with the right resources and political commitment, eliminating malaria is possible. I hope that other…

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WHO and the Inter-Parliamentary Union launch a new handbook on Universal Health Coverage

Healthtimes

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently participated in a number of joint activities at the 146th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly which took place from 11-15 March 2023 in Manama, Bahrein. By Staff Reporter This collaborative work included the launch of the IPU-WHO Handbook on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which follows up on the 2019 IPU resolution on UHC. The handbook aims to introduce parliamentarians to the concept and importance of UHC and describe the key roles Members of Parliaments (MPs) can play to make progress by offering practical and actionable…

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Zimbabwe ICASA Preparations Reach Crescendo

Kuda Pembere

With about nine months to go to this year’s edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), the event’s director Dr Luc Bodea says he is impressed by the progress Zimbabwe has made already with regards to  preparations. By Kuda Pembere Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the on-going International Steering Committee meeting, ICASA director Luc Armand Bodea said the country is progressing well on course with its preparations. We can tell you that at this stage we are at 50 to 55 percent ready…

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Giliead Under Fire For Withholding PrEP Patents

Kuda Pembere

United States (US) headquartered pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, is being accused of engaging in inhuman practices of holding on to patents for certain lifesaving drugs, a situation that has condemned millions to new HIV infections and premature deaths. By Kudakwashe Pembere Some of the practices include ever-greening of medicine patents like Truvada which has been in use as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in many countries like Zimbabwe as well as opening the license for the generic production of the hepatitis C drug Harvoni to all low- and middle-income countries. AIDS…

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100 graduate in Quality Rights for Mental Health training

Kuda Pembere

A HUNDRED persons graduated after completing a Quality Rights training on mental health recovery and community inclusion which started in January this year. By Kudakwashe Pembere The training equips the general citizenry as well as professionals in the handling of persons with lived mental health experiences. It comes at a time when stigma stereotyping of people with psychosocial disabilties is still rife in the community and even some public health facilities. World Health Organization (WHO) Zimbabwe focal person for mental health Dr Debra Machando said the course is a recovered…

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WHO Publishes New COVID-19 Vaccination Guidelines

Healthtimes

THE World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s)  Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has since revised the roadmap for prioritizing the use of COVID-19 vaccines, to reflect the impact of Omicron and high population-level immunity due to infection and vaccination. By Staff Reporter The roadmap continues SAGE’s prioritization of protecting populations at the greatest risk of death and severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection and its focus on maintaining resilient health systems. The roadmap newly considers the cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination for those at lower risk – namely healthy children and…

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ABSA, Standard Bank agree US$193m funding deal to build new Zimbabwe hospitals

Healthtimes

Zimbabwe is to raise US$193 million in offshore lending to implement a 2019 agreement with UK infrastructure company NMS for the construction of hospitals and clinics in the country. NEWSWIRE ABSA and Standard bank of South Africa are the joint arrangers for the transaction, which will be insured by Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa. The original contract saw NMS building clinics at Stoneridge in Harare and Cowdray Park in Bulawayo. The initial phases of the project, which also include four other hospitals, have been funded by the Zimbabwe…

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New WHO Findings On Possible Links Between COVID-19 And Chinese Sea Food Market Call For Action Against Zoonotic Diseases

Dingaan Mithi

By Dingaan Mithi For many months, there has been speculation on the possible origins of Covid-19. While there is no conclusive proof or evidence as to where exactly the virus originated from, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) blamed the Chinese government, pointing to a laboratory leakage of the virus, a new report by public health experts finds that Covid-19 could have originated in raccoon dogs. On 4 March 2023, scientists discovered accessions posted publicly on the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID), a global science initiative…

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