AU, EU Deepen Health Partnership with €100 Million Investment in Africa’s Health Systems
Michael Gwarisa The African Union and the European Commission have strengthened their health partnership with the launch of three new initiatives valued at more than €100 million under the Global Gateway strategy, in a move aimed at boosting health security, pandemic preparedness, and digital health systems across Africa. Working through the Africa Centres for Disease
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Iran Conflict Could Push Condom Prices Up 30 Percent, Warns Manufacturer
Michael Gwarisa The world’s largest condom manufacturer, Karex Berhad, has signalled a potential 30 percent rise in condom prices due to pressures linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The company cautioned that prices could climb even further if the war continues to disrupt access to key raw materials needed for production. This development could
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Merck Once-Daily ARV Pill Could Reach Market Soon
Michael Gwarisa In a move that could significantly reduce pill burden and improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved a new once-daily pill developed by Merck & Co. for adults living with HIV-1 who are already virologically suppressed. The pill is intended to replace a patient’s existing
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Global South Pressures EU to Finalise Equity Clause in Pandemic Agreement
Michael Gwarisa With critical negotiations set to resume, countries in the Global South are ramping up pressure on the World Health Organization and the European Union to resolve a key gap in the Pandemic Agreement, the equitable sharing of vaccines, technologies and scientific benefits. The agreement, adopted in 2025 by the World Health Assembly following
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Zimbabwean Pharmacist Tackles Health Misinformation One Book at a Time with Seven-Book Series
Michael Gwarisa At a time when health misinformation spreads faster than facts, a Zimbabwean pharmacist is taking an ambitious step to reclaim the narrative, one book at a time. In a bold effort to bridge the health information gap across Zimbabwe and the broader African region, pharmacist Reuben Katumba has launched a series of seven
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Zimbabwean Company Launches Drone Technology to Deliver Medicines and Blood Products
Michael Gwarisa Drone Solutions, a local logistics company, has introduced drone technology to deliver medicines, blood and blood products, among other essential health commodities, across Zimbabwe. The move is set to address gaps in the healthcare supply chain while tackling persistent challenges such as poor road networks and transport-related delays. It is also expected to
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Two LGBTIQ-Linked Zim NGOs Rejected Under New PVO Decisions
Michael Gwarisa Recent Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Board decisions show that most organisations seeking registration under Zimbabwe’s updated regulatory framework have been approved, while a small number have been rejected or deferred for further consideration. Among the organisations affected are two groups linked to sexual and reproductive health and LGBTIQ-related programming: the Sexual Rights Centre,
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Burundi mystery outbreak remains unsolved after More Than 200 pathogen tests
Michael Gwarisa Health authorities are still searching for answers after a cluster of deaths and illnesses in Burundi that has so far defied diagnosis, despite extensive laboratory testing that has ruled out major viral haemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola and Marburg. According to health officials involved in the investigation, hundreds of potential pathogens, including both
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PEPFAR, Global Fund Expand Lenacapavir Access to Reach 3 Million in HIV Prevention Push
Michael Gwarisa Global efforts to scale up access to a groundbreaking HIV prevention injection have received a major boost after PEPFAR and The Global Fund announced additional investment in Gilead Sciences’ long-acting drug, lenacapavir, with the aim of expanding protection to millions at risk. The new commitment will support access for up to an additional
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Low Viral Load Doesn’t Mean Zero Risk: What New Uganda Study Means for U=U
Michael Gwarisa For years, the global HIV response has rallied around a simple but powerful message: Undetectable equals Untransmittable, widely known as U=U. Backed by strong scientific evidence, the concept has transformed both HIV prevention and the lives of people living with the virus. But new findings from the Rakai HIV Cohort Study in Uganda
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