Author: Dr Grant Murewanhema

Is it seasonal flu, COVID-19 or something else?

Dr Grant Murewanhema

By Dr Grant Murewanhema We are at the peak of our winter in Zimbabwe, and there is a strong bug in circulation. Recent reports of several hospitalised people and deaths attributable to ‘flu’ over the past few weeks have led to some distressed calls. A few weeks ago, our Ministry of Health and Child Care issued a statement, boldly stating that the current ‘bout of flu’ is due to seasonal influenza. However, in Zim, preCOVID-19, people were generally not aware of people dying from ‘flu’. Those living in Western countries…

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Ngatikurukurei nezvegwirikwiti

Dr Grant Murewanhema
Dr Grant Murewanhema

Gwirikwiti chirwere chinonyanyobata vana vadiki, chinokonzerwa nehutachiwana hwe measles virus uhwo hunopararira zvakanyanya nekuchimbidza. Na Chiremba Grant Murewanhema Hutachiwana uhwu hunowanikwa nekufema mhepo yakosorerwa nemunhu ane gwirikwiti, kana kuti nekubata nzvimbo dzinenge dzakosorerwa nemunhu ane chirwere ichi. Kutaura kuno nyika yeZimbabwe iri pakati pekurwisana nechirwere ichi chatobata vana vanokwana zviuru zvitanhatu nevanoraudzira uye chikatora upenyu hwevana vanosvika mazana manomwe. Dunhu reManicaland ndiro ranyanyobatwa nechirwere uye kurasikirwa nevana vakawanda. Chikonzero ndechekuti kudunhu iri kune vanhu vane uwandu vane chitendero chisingabvumidze kubayiwa kwenhomba. Panogona kunge paine vamwewo vana vakasarira kubayiwa nekuda kwematanho…

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Zimbabwe needs to find sustainable solutions to its perennial health crisis

Dr Grant Murewanhema

During the course of the past two weeks, social media has been awash with videos of the Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) of Health for the Limpopo Province of South Africa directly humiliating Zimbabwean patients who had sought elective surgical treatment in her province. By Dr Grant Murewanhema There have been mixed reactions from the Zimbabwe, South African and international community at large regarding the conduct of the MEC. Some have described the actions as highly unethical and not expected from somebody of her stature and education. The MEC…

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Different SARS-CoV-2 variants, same prevention strategies

Dr Grant Murewanhema

On the 24th of November 2021, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of South Africa reported the detection of a new COVID-19 variant of concern (VOC), named B.1.1.529, from a specimen collected on the 9th of November 2021 [1]. Early evidence on this variant suggests that it has a very unusual array of mutations, increased antibody resistance and is possibly more transmissible. Some countries have responded by issuing travel restrictions from South Africa and other countries in the region. Dr Grant Murewanhema et al. Several studies are already underway…

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COVID-19 In Schools: What Is The Way Forward?

Dr Grant Murewanhema

AS the third wave settled, there was a huge outcry for the re-opening of schools, and I personally added my voice to the sentiments. And even today when asked, I would echo the same sentiments too. Prolonged closure of schools is not good for the pupils for several reasons. Not only do they lag behind in terms of their education and social development; they also get exposed to several hazards in society. By Dr Grant Murewanhema What quickly comes to mind is the risk of indulging in drugs, early sexual…

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COVID-19 Third Wave: Is It Time To Relax?

Dr Grant Murewanhema

IF there is one thing I have been yearning for, it’s a return to some kind of normalcy. It’s been such a long journey of restricted lifestyles, and if truth be told, that’s not how we envisage life as human beings. We are social beings, with inborn instincts to mix, mingle, be outdoors, free-spirited and have fun. By Grant Murewanhema Christians want to be in that temple, singing songs of praise and worship, exchanging mics, and dancing without being restricted, and without being overly cautious to make sure that the…

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COVID-19 VACCINATION: The Facts

Dr Grant Murewanhema

THE COVID-19 third wave has been something else in Zimbabwe. It has exceeded the damage causes by the first and second waves combined by a huge margin, and many lives have been claimed. Several families have lost two or more members, and the extent of social disruption is unimaginable. I have come across families that have lost both parents, young couples have been disrupted, pregnant mothers have departed from us, and some have left their neonates. This indeed has been a very sad time for us Zimbabweans, and has been…

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Corona Yava Kuda Kuita Muonera Pamwe, Chuma Chemuzukuru

Dr Grant Murewanhema
Dr Grant Murewanhema

NYIKA yaminama iyi. Kunze kwaita chikara, Dzihwamupengo rasiya misodzi pamatama evana vevanhu. Vamwe ndivo vari kuti midzimu yatifuratira. Vamwe ndivo vari kuti mwari atipira gotsi. Hapana achaziva maperero azvo. Chinhu chimwechete chandinoda kukudzai ndechekuti nerimwe remazuva, kunyange iro Denda re COVID iri richapera tikadzokera pedu pakare paye. Kasi zvinoda kuti tibatirane pamwechete. Na Sekuru Grant Murewanhema Ngatirambei tichishanda pamwe chete kudzivirira kuwedzera kuparara kwechidzihwamupengo chadai kutekeshera nyika yose. Chirwere ichi chiri kuramba chichititorera vadikani vedu, vavakidzani nehama neshamwari, zvinova zvinhu zvinorwadza samare. Ngatirambei tichiyeuchidzana kupfeka mamask zvakanaka, kumira takasiya nhanho…

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Zimbabwe Needs To Strengthen Public Health Sector Capacity and Resilience beyond the 3rd Wave: Lessons not learnt from the previous waves

Dr Grant Murewanhema

THE past week or two have particularly been rough for Zimbabwe. 20 people were lost in a horrific road traffic accident, and hundreds more succumbed to COVID-19. Unfortunately, all-cause mortality is probably much higher. Our focus has been so much on COVID-19 over the past 18 months and we seem to have forgotten about our high burden of HIV, malaria and other infectious diseases. Good news is Zimbabwe was removed from the list of high tuberculosis burden countries in the past week; congratulations to the AIDS and TB unit, their…

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COVID Third Wave Requires Social Media Influencers, Religious Leaders To Share Information Responsibly

Dr Grant Murewanhema

ZIMBABWE and most of Africa are currently in their third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike the first two, the current wave has had a very rapid spread across Africa, and also seems to be having a higher fatality rate. Zimbabwe has seen the highest numbers ever reported this week, reporting a record high of over 2600 cases in the past 24 hours, with 55 deaths. By Dr Grant Murewanhema There has also been widespread community transmission, with all 10 provinces reporting quite significant numbers of cases. Unlike in the…

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