Author: Healthtimes

Monkeypox: A Global Health Threat – who sounds the Alarm?

Healthtimes

By Dr. Amit Singh Monkeypox is a viral disease of animal origin. It occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions.  Common symptoms of mpox include a rash which may last for 2–4 weeks. This may start with, or be followed by, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands (lymph nodes). The rash looks like blisters or sores, and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital and/or anal regions.…

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Introducing Etona: UNICEF Zimbabwe’s New Representative

Healthtimes

Zimbabwe, 07 August 2024—Ms Etona Ekole, the newly appointed United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Zimbabwe presented her credentials today to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hon. Frederick Shava. Ms. Ekole takes over from Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale as head of UNICEF in Zimbabwe. She will oversee the development and implementation of the UNICEF Country Programme 2022-2026. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Fredrick Shava accepted Ms Ekole’s credentials and said: “We are excited to welcome Ms Etona Ekole as the new UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe. Her…

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Viagra drug improves brain blood flow and could help to prevent dementia

Healthtimes

A University of Oxford trial has shown that sildenafil, commonly known as Viagra, enhances blood flow to the brain and improves the function of brain blood vessels in patients at a heightened risk of vascular dementia.   This new study, published in Circulation Research and supported by the NIHR Oxford   Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), marks a potentially pivotal step in the fight against this debilitating condition. Dr Alastair Webb, Associate Professor at the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia at Oxford University, said: “This is the first trial to…

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Zimbabwe Has Programs to Retain Medical Students — and That’s Exactly Why They’re Fleeing

Healthtimes

Gamuchirai Masiyiwa, Global Press Zimbabwe; Prudence Phiri, Global Press Zambia HARARE, ZIMBABWE and LUSAKA, ZAMBIA — At a nursing school in Zambia, many of the students aren’t from Zambia at all. Michael is one of them. “We are,” he says, “over 100 Zimbabweans in a class of 140 students.” More and more Zimbabwean students, like Michael, are pursuing their medical and nursing educations abroad, motivated by better study opportunities, bureaucratic challenges in Zimbabwe, and the rising demand for international health workers in countries like the United Kingdom and United States.…

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UN urges Gilead to ‘make history’ with game-changing HIV drug

Healthtimes

Gilead could bring the AIDS pandemic towards an end if the US pharmaceutical giant opens up access to its game-changing new HIV drug, the head of UNAIDS told AFP. Winnie Byanyima urged Gilead to “make history” by allowing generic manufacturing of Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable antiretroviral medication used to treat HIV patients. She urged Gilead to open up Lenacapavir to the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool international organisation, whereby cheaper generic versions could be sold under licence in low- and middle-income nations. Whatever the financial rewards of creating Lenacapavir, the renown of being…

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Tampons Contain Cancer-Causing Metals- Study

Healthtimes

By Staff Reporter Women who use Tampons to manage their menstrual cycles are exposed to a greater risk of developing cancer of the reproductive system owing to the presence of heavy toxic metals in the menstrual products. Over 100 million women in over 120 countries Zimbabwe included, use tampons during their menstrual cycle. Most tampons are made from cotton and rayon, both of which are made from plants that may be exposed to heavy metal contamination in the soil. However, a new study conducted by researchers at the UC Berkeley…

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“Illuminating a Path to Sustainable Healthcare: Why Zimbabwe’s Clinics and Hospitals Need Frecon Solar’s 50kW Solar System”

Healthtimes

By Staff Reporter Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector faces numerous challenges, but one crucial aspect often overlooked is reliable energy access. Power outages and erratic electricity supply can have devastating consequences, including loss of life, equipment damage, and compromised care. However, there is a solution – Frecon Solar’s cutting-edge 50kW solar system. This innovative technology offers: – Reliable energy supply, ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services – Reduced energy costs, freeing up resources for critical medical needs – Increased energy independence, minimizing reliance on grid power – Environmental sustainability, aligning with global renewable energy…

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Biden administration plans major cuts to AIDS relief programs in Africa

Healthtimes

The Biden administration plans to cut funding by more than 6 percent in fiscal 2025 from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the 21-year-old program credited with saving millions of lives in Africa, a senior PEPFAR official told POLITICO. The State Department, which oversees the program, confirmed the cuts. The department has gradually spent down a glut in the PEPFAR budget from years in which funding from Congress exceeded State’s ability to spend it, said a department spokesperson who, like the PEPFAR official, was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive…

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HIPH and Pamumvuri Sign MOU

Healthtimes

By Khulumani Sithole. In a significant development, the Harare Institute of Public Health (HIPH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Pamumvuri to strengthen evidence-based programing for mental health interventions in Zimbabwe. The partnership thrives to link research and practice in the mental health space, aligning with the country’s efforts to improve public health. The partnership aims to connect research and practical application in the field of mental health, in line with the nation’s endeavors to enhance public health. Addressing Journalist at the conference, the Principal of the Harare…

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Man Jailed In The UK For Removing Condom During Sex

Healthtimes

A man has been jailed for four years and three months in a rare conviction for “stealthing” – taking a condom off during sex without consent. Guy Mukendi, 39, from Brixton, was sentenced on Thursday at inner London crown court for the rape of a woman last year. The woman had consented to sex with Mukendi on the condition a condom was used, but he removed it without her consent. Nonconsensual condom removal is classified as rape under separate laws applying in the UK nations. Metropolitan police officers worked with…

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