Who Will Lead the WHO Next? Meet the Candidates in the Race to Succeed Tedros
By Michael Gwarisa In August 2027, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will come to the end of his second and final term as Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Tedros, who was first elected in May 2017, made history by becoming the first African to be elected WHO Director-General through a contested race involving multiple
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Zimbabwe Hosts SPHIRHA Peer Exchange as Countries Tackle Adolescent Health Challenges
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is hosting a peer-to-peer exchange with Mozambique under the SPHIRHA programme to strengthen public health institutions’ capacity to address sexual and reproductive health and rights challenges, with adolescent pregnancy emerging as a major concern for maternal health. Chief Director in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Celestino Dhege, said
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Zambia Finally Signs US$1.5bn US Health Funding Deal After Months of Disputes
By Michael Gwarisa Zambia has finally agreed to sign a US$1.5 billion health funding deal with the United States after months of negotiations over controversial provisions on health data, biological specimens and the conditions attached to American assistance. The five-year agreement, which is expected to be signed on Thursday, will see the United States provide
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Zimbabwe Receives First 23,000 US-Funded Lenacapavir Doses
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has received the first 23,000 doses of US-funded lenacapavir from a consignment of 43,000 doses secured to expand access to the twice-yearly HIV prevention medicine, just days before the United States is set to end its health assistance programmes in the country. The latest shipment is separate from the approximately 2,000
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US-Zimbabwe relationship pivots from health aid to trade after MOU collapse
By Michael Gwarisa The United States has formally signalled a new direction in its relationship with Zimbabwe, shifting the emphasis from decades of health and humanitarian assistance towards trade, investment and broader economic cooperation following the collapse of a proposed bilateral health agreement. US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pamela Tremont made the announcement on Tuesday at
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Zimbabwe’s NCD deaths rose by 21,000 in three decades, Lancet study finds
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s estimated annual deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) more than doubled over three decades, rising from about 21,000 in 1990 to 42,000 in 2023, according to a new Lancet Global Health study. The study, which analysed Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 data across all 54 African countries, estimated that Zimbabwe recorded
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ViiV Healthcare invests £9.75 million to strengthen paediatric and adolescent HIV response
By Michael Gwarisa ViiV Healthcare has announced a new £9.75 million investment to strengthen HIV services for children and adolescents through the third phase of the Breakthrough Partnership, running from 2026 to 2029. The investment, made through ViiV Healthcare’s Positive Action programme, will support the partnership’s work in Cameroon, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania, with a
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Zimbabwe Looks to Strengthen Social Contracting as HIV Donor Funding Shrinks
By Michael Gwarisa Despite meeting the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets overall, Zimbabwe’s HIV response could face growing pressure if it fails to secure alternative funding to cover gaps left by international donors and development partners, delegates to the Transition Initiative Stakeholder Dialogue on Health financing have warned. The warning comes as Zimbabwe seeks to strengthen an
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Africa CDC Warns Ebola Response Is Missing Most Expected Contacts as Community Deaths Rise
By Michael Gwarisa The Democratic Republic of Congo’s response to the escalating Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak is facing a major surveillance gap, with Africa CDC estimating that current contact follow-up covers only about 27 percent of the contacts expected from the number of confirmed cases. Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said the gap was
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US medical team brings specialist surgical expertise to Zimbabwe in 15-year partnership
By Michael Gwarisa A multidisciplinary team of medical specialists from the United States is in Zimbabwe for a 12-day medical mission aimed at expanding access to specialised surgical care for underserved communities. The LEAP Global Missions team, working in partnership with Celebration Health, is conducting the Zimbabwe Medical Mission from September 9 to 20, 2026,
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