Senate Postpones Debate on Medical Services Amendment Bill
By Kuda Pembere With debate on Clause 11 of the Medical Services Amendment Bill, which deals with termination of pregnancy or abortion as well as other issues, expected to top the Senate’s business this year, the Upper House on Tuesday skipped the Bill’s debate. The debate was deferred due to the absence of the Health
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World Cancer Day: CWGH urges ring-fencing of Sugar Tax funds
Kuda Pembere The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has used World Cancer Day to raise fresh concerns over the management of Zimbabwe’s Sugar Tax, calling for urgent ring-fencing to protect funding for cancer treatment. Zimbabwe introduced the Sugar Tax to help finance cancer treatment. Last month, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora
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ZNASP IV Review Shows HIV Gains Amid Lingering Inequalities
Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe made significant gains in its HIV response under the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan IV (ZNASP IV 2021–2025), including achieving the 95-95-95 targets for adults and reducing new infections and AIDS-related deaths, but persistent inequalities across age, sex, geography and population groups continue to undermine progress. This emerged during the ZNASP
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BAZ flags viral explicit online content, cites child protection laws
Kuda Pembere The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has raised alarm over the spread of explicit digital content on social media platforms, warning that creators whose material is accessible in Zimbabwe remain subject to national broadcasting and censorship laws. In a press statement, the Authority said it was acting after noting with “serious concern” the
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AIDS Levy Raises US$60m in 2025 but Leaves US$140m HIV Funding Gap
Kuda Pembere Amid reduced donor funding and increased calls for domestic resource mobilisation, Zimbabwe’s AIDS levy generated about US$60 million in 2025. Speaking to HealthTimes, National AIDS Council chief executive officer Dr Bernard Madzima said the amount was far below the estimated annual requirement of US$200 million. The Zimbabwe National AIDS Levy is a statutory
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MCAZ flags Illegal Zoladex Injections Circulating in Zimbabwe
Kuda Pembere The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has issued an urgent public alert following the detection of unauthorised Goserelin Acetate (Zoladex) 10.8mg injections circulating on the local market through illegal supply channels. In a circular dated January 27, 2026, MCAZ Director General Richard Rukwata said the product was not formally imported into Zimbabwe
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No Weight Gain Worries for Zimbabwean Kids on Dolutegravir, Lancet Study Reports
Kuda Pembere Children and adolescents living with HIV in Zimbabwe who are being treated with dolutegravir are unlikely to experience excessive weight gain or unhealthy fat build-up, a major international study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. The findings come from the ODYSSEY trial, a large, long-term randomised study carried out in eight
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Table Tennis Programme Boosts Confidence Among Adolescent Girls
By Kuda Pembere Young adolescent girls have hailed the ‘My Gender, My Strength’ programme held in Harare over the weekend, saying it boosted their confidence not only in playing table tennis but also in leadership skills. The programme, which trained girls and boys from schools in Harare and Mutare, started last Friday and
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US set to quit World Health Organization
LONDON, Jan 22 (Reuters) – The U.S. is due to officially exit the World Health Organization on Thursday, in the face of warnings it will hit both U.S. health and global health and also in violation of a U.S. law that requires Washington to pay the U.N. health agency $260 million in fees that it
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First Sugar Tax–Funded Cancer Machines on Their Way to Zimbabwe
Kuda Pembere The first consignment of cancer treatment machines procured using funds raised through the Sugar Tax is currently in Durban and en route to Zimbabwe, with authorities expecting the equipment to arrive in the country within the first quarter of the year. The machines were acquired using part of the over-US$60 million raised from
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