Month: February 2024

Soil Health In The Spotlight At United Nations Environmental Assembly

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa World environmental policymakers have gathered in Nairobi (Kenya) for the UN Environment Assembly, held every two years to set the global environmental agenda to deliberate on the the « triple planetary crisis » of climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and land degradation. The conference is chaired by Morocco, and OCP Group (the world’s leading soil and plant nutrition solutions producer) has had a high profile in championing the crucial role of soil health, particularly in Africa, in addressing these issues. From the current 8bn, there will be…

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MCAZ raids Caledonia shops

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) on Wednesday raided and confiscated illegal medicines from six shops in Caledonia, close to Old Tafara. Forfeited were unregistered medicines, expired drugs, and even registered medicines being sold unlawfully in the Gazebo area of Caledonia, Mabvuku. In a statement, MCAZ Director General Mr Richard Rukwata said this raid was done in partnership with the Zimbabwe Republic Police Drug and Narcotics Unit. “Today, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Drugs and Narcotics…

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Health Workers’ Strike Not Happening Says Minister Mombeshora

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere The Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Douglas Mombeshora says chances are slim that a strike within the public health service may go on tomorrow as announced by the Health Apex Council (HAC) stating it is, unpatriotic and ‘unZimbabwean’. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines a first annual progress report meeting on the project for quality assurance and patient safety, Dr Mombeshora said they had learned the strike was on today (Wednesday) after discussions with the HAC where there were reassurances that Government was committed to…

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Seven Zim districts free of cholera

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere With all the provinces in Zimbabwe having reported cholera cases, seven districts are free of the disease. According to the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere in a post cabinet media briefing, Bulilima, Insiza, Mangwe, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Nkayi and Shurugwi are the districts that do not have cholera. The nation is advised that during the period 14 to 20 February 2024, 1 025 new suspected cholera cases were reported, reflecting a reduction from the 1 286 cases reported the previous week. Districts that…

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To protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights

Healthtimes

 By Jane KALWEO This Friday1 March 1is Zero Discrimination Day, established ten years ago by UNAIDS to protect the rights of everyone and build healthier societies. The evidence is clear: only by protecting everyone’s rights, can we protect everyone’s health. There is much to celebrate. Zimbabwe is one of the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa which has reached and surpassed the 95–95–95 targets. The country has reached 95 percent for the number of HIV-positive people knowing their status,98 percent of HIV-positive people on ART and has reached the target of…

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Power of Movement building in protecting women and girls against unsafe abortion: Op Ed

Mildred Mushunje

Mildred Mushunje, PhD The struggle for the recognition of women’s rights is one that has been fraught with backlash, including those arising out of patriarchal privileges and misogynistic ideals. Various movements including Feminist movements have risen to challenge these ideals. The movements have been multiverse and varied but they generally have the goal of addressing women’s gender subordination, the roots of women’s oppression, how gender inequality is perpetuated, and offer differing remedies for gender inequality. Such movements have also found expression in instruments such as The Convention on the Elimination…

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Zim train in minimally invasive surgery skills for chest cavity

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere A training workshop for doing applying minimally invasive surgery in the chest cavity  began Monday ending the following day at the University of Zimbabwe International Centre for Surgical Simulation (UZICSS) attracting African surgeons from Somalia, Libya, Uganda, and Botswana. Top surgeons in thoracic cavity keyhole surgery from Morocco, Spain and South Africa were the main tutors or facilitators at the workshop. Speaking with journalists, UZICSS director Professor Godfrey Muguti said this type of surgery is an evolution from the times when surgeons used to make large incisions…

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Zimbabwe Launches Women at the Center Project To Ease GBV Case Management and Referral Pathways

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Government of  Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Women Affairs Community, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), have launched the Women at the Centre Project that focuses on providing increased support to survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) through quality case management. Japanese Pharmaceutical Company Takeda is supporting the project and its being implemented over four years.  Zimbabwe is one of five countries that are part of this project. The other countries are Indonesia, El Salvador, Azerbaijan and…

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Join the Conversation! HIFA Launches Alcohol Use Disorders Working Group Discussions

Enock Musungwini

Enock Musungwini, MPH; MBA According to the World Health Organization, alcohol consumption contributes to 3 million deaths each year globally as well as to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people. Furthermore, harmful use of alcohol is responsible for 5.1% of the global burden of disease. Against this background, we are calling all Public Health Practitioners, Key Stakeholders, Health Advocates, and Concerned Individuals to the launch of the Health Information for All (HIFA) Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) Working Group discussions. This is your chance to be part of…

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Zimbabwe Revision of Comprehensive Abortion Care Guidelines a positive step towards addressing high maternal morbidity and mortality

Memory Kadau

By Memory Pamella Kadau Zimbabwe’s recent revision of its Comprehensive Abortion Care Guidelines marks a significant step forward in addressing the persistent challenge of high maternal morbidity and mortality linked to complications of abortion (Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care, 2023). Despite previous efforts, the burden remains evident, with abortion complications ranking as a major cause of maternal deaths in both rural and urban settings, according to a community-based study conducted by the Zimbabwe National Health Department (Zimbabwe National Health Department, 2022). This study further revealed that abortion complications…

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