62,500 Zimbabweans Blind from Cataracts
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is grappling with a growing eye health crisis, with cataracts emerging as the leading cause of preventable blindness in the country. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) data, an estimated 125,000 people, about one percent of the population, are blind, and of these, 62,500 cases are caused by cataracts alone. In
Read MoreCimas Launches Health Media Awards to Mark 80th Anniversary
By Michael Gwarisa Cimas Health Group has launched the Cimas@80 Media Awards to celebrate its 80th anniversary and honour the critical role journalists play in shaping a healthier Zimbabwean society. Speaking at the launch in Harare, Cimas Chief Executive Officer Mr. Vulindlela Ndlovu said the awards, which run in partnership with the Zimbabwe Union of
Read MoreZim’s Fast Food Tax generates nearly US$1 million
By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe has collected close to US$1 million in fast food tax revenue, a levy introduced by Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in the 2025 National Budget presentation. Set at 0.5 percent of sales for fast foods such as pizza, burgers, French fries, and doughnuts, the tax is aimed at promoting healthy eating
Read MoreZimbabwe Gender Commission launches Inquiry Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions
By Kuda Pembere The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) on Thursday launched a national inquiry into sexual harassment in institutions of higher and tertiary education, marking the start of a long-delayed process at Harare Polytechnic College. The Ministry of Women Affairs tasked ZGC with the inquiry in 2020, but the official launch comes five years later.
Read MoreDr Mombeshora Appoints Coordinator as EU Injects €4.3 Million into National Public Health Institute
By Kuda Pembere As Zimbabwe moves to operationalize the National Public Health Institute (NPHI), Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora has appointed Dr. Raiva Simbi as the Ministry’s Coordinator. Dr Mombeshora made the announcement came after a courtesy call by a joint delegation from the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization
Read MoreAnother Devastating Blow to HIV Funding as US Congress Advances $2 Billion in Cuts
By Michael Gwarisa The future of the United States’ HIV response hangs in the balance after the House Appropriations Committee advanced a spending bill that would slash nearly $2 billion from federal HIV programs. Advocates and public health leaders are warning that if enacted, the cuts could dismantle decades of progress in the fight against
Read MoreChildhood Obesity Emerging as a Global Public Health Crisis
By Staff Reporter Childhood obesity is rapidly becoming one of the most pressing public health challenges worldwide, with millions of children now overweight or obese, according to a new global nutrition report. The report reveals that between 1990 and 2022, the number of children living with obesity soared from 31 million to 58 million, while
Read MoreAfrica Lags Behind in Mental Health Spending, Allocating Less Than 10 Cents Per Person
By Kuda Pembere At a time when African Governments are seized with the scourge of drug and substance misuse, Zimbabwe included, they are spending less than US$0.10 per capita on mental health, compared to more than US$50 in other regions of the world. Government expenditure per capita refers to the total government spending divided by
Read MoreDust, Gold, and Infection: Midlands Province Grapples with Mining-Driven HIV Epidemic
By Michael Gwarisa in Midlands Province As one descends the winding Boterekwa curves in Shurugwi in the Midlands province, the scale of mining activity becomes impossible to ignore. The landscape has transformed dramatically since the turn of the millennium. In the distance, rocks are blasted from the earth, sending thick clouds of dust into the
Read MoreSperm Cells May Carry Traces of Childhood Stress, Study Finds
By Staff Reporter New research suggests that fathers who experienced high levels of stress during childhood may carry traces of that trauma in their sperm, potentially influencing their offspring — though scientists caution that more research is needed before drawing firm conclusions. The study, published on January 3, 2025, in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, examined
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