Born With It or Brought On by the Air? The Many Faces of Chronic Lung Disease in Children
Michael Gwarisa, Cape Town “I almost quit my job so that I could monitor my child,” says Jacky Phillips, the mother of eight-year-old Lorren Hansen, who lives with severe asthma. Phillips works as a cashier at a fuel station in Atlantis, in South Africa’s Western Cape. She recalls that Lorren’s health challenges began shortly after
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South Africa’s Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill Faces Acid Test
Michael Gwarisa South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Health has flagged grey areas in the proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, warning that the legislation continues to permit the smoking of combustible cigarettes and may therefore fail to protect millions of South Africans. The discussion took place on the same day Finance Minister
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Single-Dose Pill Brings Sleeping Sickness Closer to Elimination in Africa
Michael Gwarisa A breakthrough in the fight against sleeping sickness could transform care for thousands of patients in Africa. The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has given a positive opinion to Acoziborole Winthrop, a single-dose, three-tablet treatment for the most common form of the disease, gambiense sleeping sickness. Developed
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Denmark Eliminates Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis
Michael Gwarisa World Health Organization has certified Denmark as having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of both HIV and syphilis, marking a major public health milestone and making the country the first in the European Union to reach this goal. The certification follows a rigorous assessment process conducted by WHO’s Regional Validation Committee in June 2025 and
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WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain Steps Down
Michael Gwarisa World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain has announced that she is stepping down from her role, citing health reasons after three years at the helm of the global humanitarian agency. In an official statement, McCain said the decision was taken with deep personal difficulty, describing her time leading the WFP as the
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Africa CDC Defends Health Data Sovereignty as African States Push Back on US Health Deals
Michael Gwarisa The Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control, Dr Jean Kaseya, has stressed that Africa’s health sovereignty is non-negotiable, amid growing resistance by African states to aspects of United States-backed health agreements. His remarks follow disclosures by countries including Zimbabwe and Zambia, which this week confirmed they had declined a United
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Healthcare Stakeholders Applaud Talks to Regularise Medical and Healthcare Advertising
Michael Gwarisa The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has convened its first consultative meeting with healthcare industry stakeholders to begin developing a Statutory Instrument (SI) to regulate healthcare advertising in Zimbabwe. The meeting brought together a wide range of players from across the healthcare sector, including professional associations representing medical, dental, nursing, pharmaceutical,
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HIV Response Faces Uncertainty as Zimbabwe Halts US Health Negotiations, Experts Warn
Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s HIV response could face serious disruption following the Government’s decision to halt negotiations on a proposed US$350 million health funding agreement with the United States, public health experts have warned. The proposed agreement was being negotiated between the Government of Zimbabwe and the US Embassy in Harare, acting on behalf of Washington
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Zimbabwe Stakeholders Convene to Craft SI on Healthcare Advertising
Michel Gwarisa The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has called for a consultative stakeholders meeting with players in the healthcare sector to develop a Statutory Instrument (SI) on the advertising of healthcare services, as provided under the Health Professions Act. Currently, Zimbabwean law does not allow health practitioners or medical institutions to advertise
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Medical Aid Costs in Zimbabwe: Who Offers the Cheapest and Most Expensive Coverage?
Michael Gwarisa In Zimbabwe, the majority of people face significant barriers to accessing health insurance. Over 80% of the population do not have any form of medical coverage, according to official data from the Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ). Only about 10% of Zimbabweans are currently enrolled in medical aid schemes or other
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