Category: BREAKING NEWS

Healthcare Workers in Beitbridge Trained to Provide Inclusive SRHR and HIV Services

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  A group of 18 healthcare workers, including midwives, recently underwent specialized training aimed at improving healthcare service delivery for vulnerable and marginalized populations in and around the border town of Beitbridge. The two-day workshop focused on inclusive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV, and tuberculosis (TB) services. It was spearheaded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Save the Children, Family Support Trust (FST), and Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care. The initiative also received support from the Embassy of the…

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Future of ZIMPHIA Survey Uncertain as US Freezes Research Support

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s prospects of conducting its third Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA), a crucial household-based national HIV survey, are hanging in the balance amid indications of potential funding cuts from the United States to global scientific research initiatives. Zimbabwe has already hosted two ZIMPHIA surveys—the first in 2015/2016 and the second in 2020. Both were largely funded by the United States government through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), channeled via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The 2020 survey cost approximately US$20 million…

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Daughter of the Soil” Debuts in Nairobi, Spotlighting African Women’s Leadership as a Catalyst for Change

Michael Gwarisa

Nairobi, Kenya – April 11, 2025: The Alliance for Women and Girls (AFWAG) has officially premiered Daughter of the Soil: Sowing Seeds of Hope, a powerful new documentary that reframes African women’s leadership as a strategic driver of global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Directed by award-winning Zimbabwean filmmaker Kudzai Tinago of Tigzozo Media, the film follows the compelling personal and professional journey of Dr. Vongai Nyahunzvi, Founder and CEO of AFWAG. From her childhood in Norton, Zimbabwe, to her continent-wide mission to dismantle barriers for women and…

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Rampant Sexual Networks Hinder Mpox Response in Africa

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Efforts to curb the spread of Mpox among African Union member states remain a challenge due to widespread and interconnected sexual networks, HealthTimes has learned. Uganda currently leads in new Mpox cases, accounting for 50% of all recorded infections in Africa over the past six weeks. The majority of cases in Uganda stem from the Clade 1B strain, which is sexually transmitted. Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have collectively recorded 94% of confirmed cases since the beginning of the year. Speaking during the…

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Seasonal Wild Vegetables Could End Hidden Hunger in Zimbabwe – Expert

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa A University of Zimbabwe food scientist has warned that many exotic vegetables, such as lettuce and rape, contain significantly fewer micronutrients essential for growth and combating hidden hunger. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hidden hunger refers to malnutrition characterized by micronutrient deficiencies where individuals consume enough calories but lack essential vitamins and minerals necessary for growth and development. Speaking at a National AIDS Council (NAC) Editors and Station Managers Workshop recently, Dr. Batsi Chipurura from the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences at the…

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Botswana Launches National TB Caucus to Combat Tuberculosis Crisis

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Botswana has launched its National TB Caucus, a landmark initiative uniting policymakers, health experts, and civil society to accelerate efforts in tackling tuberculosis (TB). The launch, held in Gaborone, aligns with global targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB. With one of the highest TB incidence rates globally, Botswana is stepping up its fight against the disease, which remains a major public health concern. Tuberculosis continues to pose a significant challenge for Botswana, with an incidence rate of…

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MCAZ Warns Against Unapproved Advertisement of Medicines

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has raised alarm over the increasing trend of unapproved medicine advertisements, particularly on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter). The authority has noted that celebrities and social media influencers are among those promoting these medicines, including herbal and complementary products, without the required authorization. MCAZ Director-General Mr. Richard T. Rukwata emphasized the legal and health implications of such advertisements, stating, “The unauthorized promotion of medicines poses a significant risk to public health, as it can…

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Road Safety Audits Launch Meeting Highlights Sustainable Mobility Initiatives

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter A pivotal meeting to launch a Road Safety Audits Training initiative was held on March 27, 2025, at Moto Republik in Harare, Zimbabwe. The initiative aims to enhance road safety and promote sustainable mobility across the country. The event was funded by the FIA Foundation through the FIA Safe & Sustainable Mobility Grant Program, awarded to the Automobile Association of Zimbabwe (AAZ). It brought together key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Transport & Infrastructure Development, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, and experts from organizations such as…

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Equality Now Urges Stronger Child Protection Measures at ACERWC 45th Ordinary Session

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Maseru, Lesotho – International human rights organization Equality Now, has called for urgent and reinforced actions to safeguard children’s rights in Africa during the 45th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). Addressing the high-level gathering, Sally Ncube, Equality Now’s representative, emphasized the pressing need for legal reforms and stronger enforcement mechanisms to protect children from harmful practices, violence, and exploitation. The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare…

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Regulatory Rift: Medical Aid Sector Say No to IPEC, While Doctors and Private Hospitals Say It’s Time

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The medical aid industry and healthcare service providers appear to be at odds regarding the proposed Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) Amendment Bill, H.B. 7, 2024. If passed into law, the IPEC Bill will see the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) surrender regulation of the medical aid sector to the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC), which falls under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. The Insurance and Pensions Commission Amendment Bill, H.B. 7, 2024, introduces significant reforms aimed at strengthening regulation, transparency, and policyholder…

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