Day: May 8, 2023

The imperative of integrated person-centered care to achieving Universal Health Coverage

Vivian Mugarisi

By Vivian Mugarisi Harare, Zimbabwe – 51-year-old Kay Mabika** adheres to her HIV medication. Testing positive for HIV in 2006 added more weight and complexities onto the burden of living with diabetes, which she was diagnosed with 4 years earlier. Despite being strict in adhering to antiretroviral treatment (ART), Mabika struggles to manage her diabetic condition and is worried that she may not even be able to afford the medication when she retires. Due to the diabetic condition, she lost her sight in her left eye and the right one…

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Rare Diseases – Facing Challenges with Limited Access to Medication

Retlaw Matatu Matorwa

By:Retlaw Matatu Matorwa Zimbabwe, like many Sub-Saharan African countries has been grappling with the challenge of rare diseases. Rare diseases are classified as any disease that affects fewer than 5 in 10,000 people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are over 7,000 rare diseases, and they are often chronic, progressive, and life-threatening. There are many challenges in diagnosing and managing rare diseases, with limited access to medication and lack of knowledge by medical professionals on how to manage them, being the main obstacles. Zimbabwe has a high burden…

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