Author: Michael Gwarisa

Editor for HealthTimes, Zimbabwe's leading online health news publication

Health Portfolio Committee to Address Sanitary Wear Petition Next Week

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa For many schoolgirls in rural Zimbabwe, menstruation is more than just a biological process, it is a barrier to education. Rumbidzai Magwere, a schoolgirl from Mvurwi, knows this all too well. “There are no pads in our school. Sometimes my period starts while I’m in class, and I am unprepared. It is embarrassing to sit in spoiled clothes. I have no choice but to miss lessons and stay home until it’s over. This is affecting my studies because lessons do not stop just because one girl is…

Read More

MCAZ Announces New Declaration Requirement for Directors of Pharmaceutical Companies in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  In a recent circular issued by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), Mr. Richard T. Rukwata, the Director-General, announced a new requirement for directors of pharmaceutical companies. Effective from 24th March 2025, all directors applying for new licenses or renewals must complete a declaration form disclosing any contraventions of the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act (Chapter 15:03) or the Dangerous Drugs Act (Chapter 15:02) within the past three years. This new requirement is part of MCAZ’s ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with the laws and…

Read More

Proposed IPEC Bill Could Collapse Zimbabwe ‘s Medical Aid Societies Sector- AHFoZ Warns

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) has raised alarm over the proposed Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) Amendment Bill of 2024, warning that the new regulations could destabilize the country’s medical aid system and lead to its eventual collapse. The Bill, which seeks to classify Medical Aid Societies under financial services for regulation by IPEC, has sparked widespread concern among healthcare stakeholders who argue that the move could have far-reaching consequences for both the medical aid sector and the broader healthcare ecosystem. The proposed legislation,…

Read More

Africa CDC Confirms Mpox Vaccine Production to Start in 2025

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, told a media briefing that local production of the Mpox vaccine on the continent will commence this year, although he did not provide specific timelines. In 2024, Africa CDC partnered with Bavarian Nordic to enhance vaccine manufacturing capabilities within Africa. The partnership aims to strengthen health security across the continent. We have the outcome; we have now started discussions with the successful bidders,” said Dr. Kaseya. “At the moment, we are finalizing some…

Read More

Cimas Health Group Partners Smilestar, a United Kingdom-Based Dental Organisation

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  In a successful partnership aimed at improving oral healthcare access for underserved communities, Smilestar, a UK-based charity dental organization, joined forces with Cimas Health Group, Zimbabwe’s longest-established private medical aid society. Together, they conducted a two-week dental outreach program in Matabeleland North, offering essential services to remote populations. The outreach, which concluded on March 20, focused on providing free dental treatments to residents of remote areas, where access to dental care is often limited. Cimas Health Group played a pivotal role by offering a fully equipped mobile…

Read More

Nigeria Leads Africa in Skin Bleaching, with 77% of Users Engaging in the Practice

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Nigeria has the highest prevalence of skin bleaching in Africa, with 77% of its population using skin-lightening products, a new report has revealed. The November 2023 Regional Fact Sheet on Skin Bleaching in Africa, compiled by the African Health Observatory (AHO) under the World Health Organization (WHO), warns that the widespread practice poses severe health risks and remains a major public health concern. Despite global efforts to regulate and ban harmful skin-bleaching products, millions of Nigerians continue to use them, driven by social, cultural, and economic pressures.…

Read More

Ministry of Health Addresses Concerns at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter The Ministry of Health and Child Care has reassured staff and the public that measures are being taken to address key concerns raised by nurses at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital following their demonstration on March 17, 2025. In a statement, the Ministry acknowledged the challenges at the hospital, particularly issues related to water supply, elevator functionality, staff welfare, and medical supplies. Efforts are already underway to resolve these problems and improve service delivery at the facility. One of the main concerns raised by hospital staff was the…

Read More

Mutawatawa Hospital Gets New Digital X-Ray Machine

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a move set to revolutionize healthcare access in rural communities, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), with support from UNDP Zimbabwe, has installed a new X-ray machine at Mutawatawa District Hospital in Mashonaland East. The new X-ray machine replaces the outdated analogue system, significantly improving healthcare access by providing timely and accurate medical imaging. This advancement reduces the need for patients to travel long distances to urban centers for X-ray services. Speaking to HealthTimes,  Dr. Gladman Mubonani, the District Medical Officer for Mutawatawa said…

Read More

New Start Centre Resumes Full Operations In Zimbabwe Following U.S. Funding Suspension

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa After a temporary suspension of U.S. funding, the New Start Centre program has fully resumed its operations, restoring crucial health services for communities across Zimbabwe. The suspension of the award was lifted, allowing Population Solutions for Health (PSH), which runs the New Start Centres, to continue providing vital healthcare services. Dr. Noah Taruberekera, Managing Director of Population Solutions for Health in Zimbabwe (PSH), told HealthTimes in an interview that the relaunch has been made possible through funding from key stakeholders, including the United States Agency for International…

Read More

Greedy Parents Exploit Lack of Birth Certificates to Shield Child Marriage Offenders in Zvimba

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa, Mutorashanga A Zvimba traditional leader, Chief Gibson Jenami Katizagombo, has raised alarm over a growing trend in his community where parents are exploiting the absence of birth documentation to mislead authorities and legitimize early child marriages. According to a 2015 study titled The Face of Child Marriages in Mashonaland West, key drivers of child marriages in the province, particularly in Zvimba District, include poverty, religion, culture, peer pressure, and teenage pregnancies, among other factors. Speaking to HealthTimes on the sidelines of National Women’s Day commemorations in Mutorashanga—hosted…

Read More