South Africa Launches Bid to Produce Lenacapavir as Region Seeks HIV Prevention Breakthrough
Michael Gwarisa South Africa has taken a significant step toward expanding access to next-generation HIV prevention by launching a process aimed at manufacturing lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable drug widely seen as a potential game-changer in the fight against HIV. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy by the government to strengthen regional pharmaceutical
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‘Unsafe Abortions Driving Preventable Maternal Deaths’
Kudakwashe Pembere Abortion complications account for an estimated five percent of maternal deaths in her setting. Of the women who die from abortion-related complications, up to 70 percent have undergone unsafe procedures. For Dr Rumbidzai Makoni, these are not just statistics. They are women she has treated, and in some cases, women she lost. An
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Government Targets Neonatal Mortality Below 12 per 1,000 by 2030
Kuda Pembere Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing neonatal mortality to fewer than 12 deaths per 1,000 live births, in line with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). The Neonatal Mortality Rate according to the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS 2023-24) according to Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora is 31 deaths
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Medical Aid Clinics at Risk as Government Moves to Tighten Regulations
Kudakwashe Pembere A 26-year standoff between medical aid funders and healthcare service providers is threatening to intensify following proposed amendments to Statutory Instrument 330 of 2000 that would bar medical aid societies from owning or operating health facilities. The Health and Child Care Ministry recently convened a consultative meeting with medical aid societies and service
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Africa CDC, UZ Train New Cohort to Tackle Mental Health Burden
By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe is hosting the Africa CDC–University of Zimbabwe Mental Health Leadership Programme for the second consecutive year, as efforts intensify to address the growing burden of mental health disorders across the continent. Convened for the Southern African region, the two-week training course began on Monday and will run until 13 March. This
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Woman Sues Hospital In Bid To End Captivity
By Kuda Pembere A 75-year-old woman has taken a private hospital to court, accusing the medical facility of unlawfully detaining her in an attempt to force payment of an outstanding bill. Marita Manyore, who lives in Murambinda in Buhera District, Manicaland Province, has allegedly been held at Exclusive Medcare Hospital for close to two weeks
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South Africa’s Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill Faces Acid Test
Michael Gwarisa South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Health has flagged grey areas in the proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, warning that the legislation continues to permit the smoking of combustible cigarettes and may therefore fail to protect millions of South Africans. The discussion took place on the same day Finance Minister
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Denmark Eliminates Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis
Michael Gwarisa World Health Organization has certified Denmark as having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of both HIV and syphilis, marking a major public health milestone and making the country the first in the European Union to reach this goal. The certification follows a rigorous assessment process conducted by WHO’s Regional Validation Committee in June 2025 and
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Protecting Zimbabwe’s Girls: Why Access to Lawful Abortion Cannot Wait
Edinah Masiyiwa For reproductive rights advocates, the recent weeks have been a major setback. The Senate recommended removing Clause 11 from the Health Services Amendment Bill — a clause designed to clarify and improve access to lawful abortion services. Even more concerning was the statement by the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care
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Study Finds US Women Prioritise Pregnancy Prevention Over HIV and STI Protection
Michael Gwarisa For many American women, the fear of an unintended pregnancy outweighs concerns about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, according to new research on multipurpose vaginal rings. The findings are detailed in a new peer-reviewed study titled “Multipurpose vaginal rings: preferences from a national discrete choice experiment survey among US women.” The study
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