- Leaked Memo Shows U.S. May Cut HIV Aid to Zambia to Secure Mineral Access
- FDA Draft Guidance on Flavored Vapes Aims to Protect Youth
- Zimbabwe Wraps Up Japan-Supported Kaizen Programme, Reporting Improved Hospital Patient Outcomes
- Africa CDC Trains Diverse Leaders to Close Africa’s Mental Health Treatment Gap
- Rare HIV ‘Breakthrough’ Cases Reported in Lenacapavir PrEP Trials Across Africa
Leaked Memo Shows U.S. May Cut HIV Aid to Zambia to Secure Mineral Access
Michael Gwarisa A report in The New York Times reveals that the U.S. State Department is considering a significant reduction in health assistance to Zambia as a negotiating tool to gain greater access to the country’s critical minerals. According to The New York Times, a draft memo prepared for Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggests
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Rare HIV ‘Breakthrough’ Cases Reported in Lenacapavir PrEP Trials Across Africa
Michael Gwarisa As more African countries begin to introduce lenacapavir into their HIV prevention programmes, scientists are examining new data showing that a small number of people became infected with HIV while using the medication. The drug’s rollout now extends beyond just one or two nations. Countries that have started distributing the twice-yearly injectable or
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South Africa Urged to Secure Better Lenacapavir License Terms With Gilead Before Local Manufacturing
Michael Gwarisa Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has urged South Africa not to rush into local manufacturing of lenacapavir, an injectable HIV prevention drug, without first negotiating stronger, more equitable license terms or using a compulsory license to bypass patent restrictions. Their call follows a recent announcement by the South African government that it is negotiating
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Zimbabwe–US Health Deal Collapses, Triggering Wind-Down of US$367m Aid and Raising Fears for HIV Response
Kuda Pembere & Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s health sector faces renewed uncertainty after the collapse of a proposed US$367 million health assistance agreement with the United States, prompting Washington to begin winding down major health interventions in the country. The development follows a directive by President Emmerson Mnangagwa instructing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
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Where Zimbabwe Stands in the Fight Against HIV
Michael Gwarisa In 1985, Zimbabwe recorded its first confirmed case of HIV, marking the start of a national epidemic. By the mid-1980s, cases were rising rapidly, particularly in Hurungwe District, where formal surveillance began in 1986. By the end of the decade, nearly 10 percent of Zimbabwe’s adult population had already been infected. Nearly four
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Zimbabwe’s Lenacapavir Rollout Date Finally Announced
Michael Gwarisa Following weeks of anticipation, the Zimbabwean government has finally announced the dates for the rollout of lenacapavir, an injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis drug. The rollout had initially been scheduled for January 2026. According to The Herald, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Aspect Maunganidze, confirmed that the drug
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Who Should Not Take Lenacapavir? Key Health Conditions to Consider Before the Rollout
By Michael Gwarisa As Zimbabwe prepares to roll out Lenacapavir, an injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis drug, anticipation is growing among people waiting for their turn. The initial consignment consists of just 2,000 doses, meaning distribution will focus on groups classified as high risk. Despite its high efficacy, Dr Owen Mugurungi, Director of AIDS, TB and Malaria
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Lenacapavir Doses Now In Zimbabwe, But Experts Urge Caution
Michael Gwarisa As Zimbabwe takes delivery of its first doses of Lenacapavir, the new long-acting injectable for HIV prevention, public health experts are urging citizens to understand that this is not a replacement for existing prevention methods, but rather a powerful addition to the country’s combination prevention approach. The announcement came during a Continuing Medical
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You Could Get HIV from the Barber Shop, Study Finds
Michael Gwarisa A South African study has concluded that a person could be exposed to blood borne infections during a haircut or shave at a public barber shop, raising renewed concerns about hygiene standards in informal grooming spaces. The study, published in the South African Medical Journal, found that 42 percent of barber clippers were
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Scientists Make Breakthrough Toward Full Cure for HIV
Researchers say they’ve taken a major step toward finding a cure for HIV. As The Guardian reports, scientists at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne found a way to make the HIV virus visible, potentially laying the groundwork for ways to banish it from the body altogether. As detailed in a paper published
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