Month: October 2023

Combating Drug and Substance Abuse among School Children: A Fight for Everyone

Olivia Ganya

By Olivia Ganya The scourge of drug and substance abuse plagues schools across our nation. Far too many promising young lives are being lost or derailed by the lure of illicit substances. However, there is hope – as a society, we can come together to protect our most vulnerable from facing this threat alone. Drug and substance abuse can have severe consequences on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of school children. It can impede their academic performance, disrupt social relationships, and lead to long-term health problems. Additionally, substance abuse…

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The Burden of Unsafe Abortions among Adolescent Girls

Dr Munyaradzi Murwirwa

By Dr Munyaradzi Murwira Introduction Adolescents are a diverse group; their sexual and reproductive health needs and ability to meet those needs vary based on their life circumstances, including marital status and urban or rural residence. Adolescents often face a multitude of challenges in obtaining sexual and reproductive health services, including social stigma, judgmental attitudes of community, health care providers, financial constraints and lack of information. Key sexual reproductive health issues affecting youths include among others, STIs/HIV & AIDS, teenage pregnancies, unintended pregnancies, drug and substance abuse, and sexual gender…

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Cimas acquires Highlands Wellness Group

Kuda Pembere

As part of its contributions to control the raging scourge of drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe, CIMAS says it recently acquired the Highlands Wellness Group to provide drug abuse related rehabilitation services. By Kuda Pembere With this acquisition, CIMAS will be providing comprehensive coverage for alcohol and drug rehabilitation services to its members. The alarming increase in cases of alcohol and substance abuse in Zimbabwe, particularly during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic, has highlighted the urgent need for accessible and effective rehabilitation services. “However, the high costs…

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ICASA To Proceed As Planned…Cholera Outbreak Under Control

Michael Gwarisa

The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) says they have identified most cases and initiated patients on Cholera treatment and care, allaying any fears of a full-blown cholera outbreak of the proportions of 2008/09. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has been recording sporadic and isolated cases of Cholera mostly in rural communities and some peri-urban centres over the past few months, raising fears in some circles that the outbreak could derail hosting of the international Conference on AIDS and SITs in Africa (ICASA), slated for December 4 to 9 2023.…

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Zimbabwean Care Workers In The UK Reduced 21st Century Slaves: Report

Kuda Pembere

Zimbabwean nationals working in the United Kingdom as carers or caregivers or caregivers are in the top three of workers being subjected to modern day slavery. While in the top three, the southern African country leads other African countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, and Botswana. By Kudakwashe Pembere This came out in a report dubbed ‘Who Cares? A REVIEW OF REPORTS OF EXPLOITATION IN THE CARE SECTOR by Unseen, a UK organization. Many a Zimbabweans have been migrating to the UK in search for greener pastures particularly in…

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Zimbabwe To Use Dual Prevention Pill That Protects Against HIV Infection and Unintended Pregnancy

Michael Gwarisa

In a bid to widen HIV prevention and contraceptive options for women and girls, Zimbabwe could be adopting a revolutionary Dual Prevention Pill (DPP), in the not so distant future. By Michael Gwarisa The Dual Prevention Pill adds to the list of other Biomedical HIV prevention tools Zimbabwe has adopted over the past few years which include  the Dapivirine Vaginal ring that was adopted in 2021 and the Long-Acting Injectable PrEP that was approved for use in 2022. However, roll-out of these products is yet to commence in Zimbabwe. Speaking…

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EGPAF Helps Government Set-up Long COVID Clinic In Zim

Kuda Pembere

With some Zimbabweans still grappling with Long COVID, Zimbabwe needs support to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 while strengthening its pandemic preparedness and response, a top Ministry of Health and Child Care official said on Wednesday. By Kuda Pembere Addressing a Catalysing COVID-19 Action (CCA) high level stakeholder meeting, Health and Child Care Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze represented by Epidemiology and Disease Control Director Dr Rudo Chikodzore said the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world at a time when most health systems were ill-prepared. The Catalyzing COVID-19 Action (CCA)…

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Decentralize Cancer Screening…Fund Treatment and Care

Fiona Tinarwo

By Fiona Tinarwo In May this year, I had an opportunity to be part of a team that facilitated a mobile outreach clinic in Chimanimani in partnership with Mutambara Mission Hospital. One of the most important service on offer was cervical cancer screening. I met a number of women from the community and had a chance to speak to them about the importance of cervical cancer screening. One lady honestly spoke about life after getting screened and being diagnosed with cervical cancer. She literally spoke about how that could be…

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Germany’s Air-tube System company Aerocom keen on working with Zim hospitals

Kuda Pembere

A Germany headquartered company Aerocom, a leading global designer of pneumatic tube systems which reduces the turnaround time of samples between the laboratory and hospitals, anticipates to have its systems in Zimbabwe  next year. By Kuda Pembere Often called an AirTube System, it is a means of transporting a small payload, typically up to 5kg maximum, within a carrier which is moved within a tube between different locations by air. At a time when the majority of hospitals rely on porters to move samples from the nurse who would have…

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President Mnangagwa Should Declare Cholera a National Disaster

Michael Gwarisa

PUBLIC Health expert and Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike has called on President Emerson Mnganagwa to act swiftly and declare the prevailing Cholera outbreak a National Disaster before the health situation gets out of hand. By Michael Gwarisa His call comes in the midst of numerous Cholera cases that have been recorded and confirmed mostly in rural areas across the country with Buhera District in Manicaland province being the hardest hit. In an interview with HealthTimes, Mr Rusike said the situation on the ground…

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