Middle East War Pushes Up Mosquito Net Production Costs, Threatening Africa’s Malaria Fight
Michael Gwarisa The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned of a looming malaria crisis, driven by rising costs of polyester, a key raw material used in the production of mosquito nets. Across Africa, where malaria remains endemic, long-lasting insecticidal nets are a primary line of defence against the anopheles mosquito,
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Zimbabwe Probes Genetic Link in Unexplained Infertility Cases
Michael Gwarisa Data shows up to 20 percent of couples face unexplained infertility, where science has not identified a clear cause, prompting Zimbabwean medical experts to launch a study exploring potential genetic links to infertility. While science has established that factors such as poor sperm quality, low sperm count, uterine abnormalities in women, fibroids, and
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Zimbabwe Public Health Workers Equipped to Turn Data into Policy
Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is strengthening its public health decision-making by equipping government officials with critical data analysis skills, following the completion of a six-month Data-to-Policy (D2P) training programme led by Vital Strategies. The latest cohort saw 19 participants from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small
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Gilead Refuses to Sell Lenacapavir to MSF Amid Rising HIV Risk
By Michael Gwarisa Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has accused pharmaceutical company Gilead of refusing to sell lenacapavir, a long acting injectable used to prevent HIV infection. MSF says the refusal follows multiple requests made over several months, including a formal meeting in which the organisation sought to purchase a
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Health Funders Push Back, Warn 80% of Private Healthcare Funding at Risk in IPEC Takeover
Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector faces uncertainty as health funders warn that proposed regulatory changes could disrupt medical aid societies that finance up to 80 percent of private healthcare. The proposed reforms, contained in the IPEC Amendment Bill, have triggered concern among healthcare funders who warn the move could disrupt a system that has long
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Zimbabwe Sex Workers Demand End to Police Harassment
Michael Gwarisa Sex workers in Zimbabwe are calling for an end to ongoing harassment and abuse by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, warning that current practices are undermining their safety and rights. In 2025, a Constitutional Court ruling significantly limited how police can enforce laws on soliciting for sex. The court made it clear
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Guruve School’s Biogas and Women’s Waste-to-Cash Initiative Drive One Health Gains in Guruve
Michael Gwarisa in Guruve For years, Chifamba High School in Guruve, Mashonaland Central, spent hundreds of dollars on firewood for cooking and daily needs, placing a heavy burden on the school and its learners. “We relied on firewood, and it was a difficult and time-consuming experience,” said Panashe Gomorago, a pupil at the school. “Now
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Ejaculating More Frequently Could Boost Sperm Health, Oxford Researchers Say
Michael Gwarisa New research from Oxford University suggests that ejaculation frequency may play a key role in maintaining sperm quality, with findings showing that prolonged sperm storage in the body can lead to deterioration over time. The study found that the longer sperm are stored before ejaculation, the lower their quality, a finding that could
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Top 5 Cities in the World for Eye Health in 2026
Michael Gwarisa Maintaining healthy vision isn’t just about genetics or limiting screen time—where you live can play a big role. A new global analysis shows that certain cities offer ideal conditions for protecting eyesight, thanks to clean air, green spaces, low UV exposure, and easy access to eye care. 1. Reykjavik, Iceland Reykjavik tops the
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Zimbabwe’s Family Planning Council Operating on a Shoestring Budget
Michael Gwarisa Despite a multimillion-dollar pledge made by the Government of Zimbabwe at the International Conference on Family Planning in Bogotá, Colombia, where Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora announced an additional US$2.25 million per year for contraceptive procurement in 2026 and 2027, the country’s Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) is struggling to make
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