WHO Declares Hantavirus Outbreak Over After Final Contact Tests Negative
By Michael Gwarisa WHO has officially declared the recent hantavirus outbreak over after the last person known to have been exposed to the virus completed quarantine and tested negative. Announcing the development, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the final identified contact linked to the outbreak had safely completed the required monitoring period.
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Zimbabwe’s Family Planning Investment Unlocks Increased UNFPA Support
By Michael Gwarisa HARARE – Zimbabwe’s commitment to investing domestic resources in family planning is paying dividends, with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) increasing its financial support for reproductive health commodities under a financing arrangement now being recognised as a regional success story. Speaking during a visit to the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) in
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Zimbabwe to Use Sugar Tax Revenue to Fund Nutrition, Fight Obesity
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe will begin using revenue collected from sugar-sweetened beverages and fast-food taxes to finance nutrition programmes and tackle the growing burden of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) following Cabinet’s approval of the National Nutrition Financing Strategy. The strategy, presented by Vice President General (Rtd) Dr. Constantino Chiwenga in his capacity as
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Zimbabwe to Host Continental Reproductive Justice Forum Focused on Age and Rights
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe will, for the first time, host the Fourth Annual Reproductive Justice Litigation Baraza, marking the first occasion the continental conference has been held outside Uganda since its inception four years ago. Running from August 3 to 7, 2026 in Harare under the theme “Age as a Determinant of Sexual and Reproductive
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Zimbabwe Study Finds Older People Living with HIV Face Hidden Bone Loss, Women at Greatest Risk
By Michael Gwarisa A groundbreaking Zimbabwean study has revealed that older people living with HIV have significantly poorer bone health than their HIV-negative peers, with women facing an even greater risk of developing osteoporosis and suffering debilitating fractures as they age. Published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, the study found that HIV
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A Voice From the Podium: Pregnant Teen’s Emotional Testimony Defines National Adolescent Pregnancy Launch
By Michael Gwarisa in Goromonzi A hush settled over the grounds of Goromonzi High School on a chilly Monday morning in the third week of June 2026 as government officials, development partners, traditional leaders, health workers and students gathered to launch Zimbabwe’s National Multi-Sectoral Framework for the Prevention and Management of Adolescent Pregnancies. Amid the
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Child Marriage Suspects Walking Free in Court, Say Chiefs—Demand Tough Powers
By Michael Gwarisa in Gweru Traditional leaders have called for the alignment of Zimbabwe’s laws with customary law, arguing that this would empower chiefs to take stronger action against child marriages in their communities. They say the current legal system is undermining their efforts, as cases they help build at community level often fail in
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Zimbabwean Chiefs Draw a Line on Child Marriage Through “Not In My Village”
By Michael Gwarisa What began as a youth-led campaign in one province is increasingly evolving into a national movement reshaping how traditional leaders respond to child marriage across Zimbabwe. From roadside billboards carrying anti-child marriage messages to new village by-laws, and strengthened accountability systems, chiefs say the Not In My Village campaign is shifting attitudes
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Zimbabwe Launches National Framework as Adolescent Pregnancies Surge to 22%
By Michael Gwarisa The Government of Zimbabwe has launched a National Multi-Sectoral Framework for the Prevention and Management of Adolescent Pregnancies, describing the initiative as a decisive national response to one of the country’s most urgent public health and development challenges. The framework seeks to coordinate action across government ministries, communities, development partners, traditional leaders,
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African Leaders Pledge US$910 Million to Contain Ebola as Africa CDC Warns Time Is Running Out
By Michael Gwarisa African leaders, donors and international partners have pledged US$910 million towards containing the growing Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, with health officials warning that delays in releasing funds could sharply escalate both infections and costs. The commitments were announced following a High-Level Emergency Meeting convened
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