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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“Finish What We Started”: WHO and Brazil Urge Leaders to Finalise Pandemic Agreement
By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization and the Government of Brazil have issued a joint appeal to global leaders, urging them to “finish what we started” by finalising the remaining piece of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, warning that the world remains dangerously exposed to the next health emergency. In an open letter addressed to
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WHO Pushes Expansion of PEN-Plus to 30 African Countries Ahead of Tanzania Conference
By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing to expand its PEN-Plus programme to 30 African countries beginning this year as governments, health experts and development partners gather momentum to tackle the continent’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The planned expansion comes ahead of the 3rd International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa (ICPPA
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WHO Africa Director Calls for Greater Investment in Safe Blood Systems as Region Marks World Blood Donor Day
By Michael Gwarisa As the world commemorates World Blood Donor Day 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Prof Mohamed Yakub Janabi, has called for stronger investment in blood services across the continent, warning that demand for safe blood continues to outpace supply. In his World Blood Donor Day message, Prof Janabi
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635 Cases and Rising: Current Ebola Outbreak Far Exceeds Previous Bundibugyo Epidemics
By Michael Gwarisa The current outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease (BVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the largest ever recorded since the strain was first identified nearly two decades ago, according to data from Africa CDC. As of June 9, 2026, the outbreak had recorded 635 confirmed cases and 127
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