Hand Foot and Mouth Disease Is Not a Zoonotic Disease
By Michael Gwarisa Health authorities in Harare have confirmed a sharp rise in cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) since October 2025, emphasizing that the illness is not a zoonotic disease, meaning it cannot be transmitted from animals to humans. “The disease apparently is different from what we find in cattle, the foot
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Zimbabwe Moves to Institutionalise Public Health Intelligence with PHIZ Steering Committee
By Kuda Pembere Government has set up a steering committee for the Public Health Institute of Zimbabwe (PHIZ), with Dr. Raiva Simbi appointed as the coordinator. Other members include Dr. Wenselous Nyamayaro, Dr. Pious Makaya, Dr. Agnes Mahomva, Brigadier General Dr. Godfrey Mutetse, Dr. Prosper Chonzi, Justice Ministry Permanent Secretary Mrs. Nyemba (represented by Salome Chihuri),
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Pan African Woman of Impact Award bestowed on Prof Smelly Dube
Trailblazing Gweru businesswoman, philanthropist and Rivervalley Group of Companies Chief Executive Officer,Amb Proffessor Smelly Dube has scooped the prestigious Pan African Woman of Impact Champion of Change Legacy Award. The honour was bestowed on her by the West African Leadership and Empowerment Centre at a glamorous awards ceremony held recently in Abuja, Nigeria. Dr. Olawale
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Zimbabwe’s Rusike Appointed Global UHC Champion
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwean public health expert and Executive Director of the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH), Itai Rusike, has been selected as one of only ten Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Champions globally. Rusike brings to this distinguished cohort decades of experience in public health advocacy, policy development, and the design of people-centred health systems.
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Crucial Week: Committee to Rule on Whether Mpox Remains a Public Health Emergency
By Michael Gwarisa Sixteen months after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), the Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) is set to meet this week to decide whether the outbreak should be lifted as a PHECS or maintained. This follows months of surveillance
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Restless leg syndrome may increase Parkinson’s disease risk, study finds
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeTrusted Source, restless leg syndrome “is a neurological condition that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs.” The condition impacts 7-10%Trusted Source of people in the U.S. The relationship between Parkinson’s disease and restless leg syndrome is an area of ongoing research. A study recently published in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source found
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Harare Records 161 Percent Spike in Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Cases
By Kuda Pembere The City of Harare has reported a sharp rise in Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases in children, with infections now reaching a cumulative 1 500 cases since the first case was recorded. As of November 20, the city had reported 575 cases, meaning current infections represent a 161 percent increase. “Yes,
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Chinese Construction Firms in Zimbabwe Accused of Endangering Workers’ Health and Safety
By Michael Gwarisa Workers’ trade union organisations in Zimbabwe have accused Chinese construction companies operating in the country of exposing employees to hazardous working conditions and violating basic occupational health and safety requirements. The concerns were raised during the signing of the Decent Work Pledge for Construction Industry Employees held in Harare. The event was
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The Protein Gap: How Feed and Fodder Shortfalls Are Undermining Nutrition and Cognitive Development in Zimbabwe
By Kuda Pembere For most Zimbabwean households, access to protein-rich foods appears, at least on paper, to be relatively stable. According to the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC), 79 percent of households reported consuming protein-rich foods on a daily basis in 2022. Yet beneath this headline figure lies a more troubling nutritional reality, one that
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Stanbic Bank renews funding for life‑changing hernia surgeries
Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe has renewed its commitment to improving access to essential healthcare by donating US$15,000 to Celebration Health, the medical outreach arm of Celebration Ministries International. The funding will support hernia surgical operations for underprivileged children across Zimbabwe, expanding a partnership that has already transformed dozens of young lives. The latest contribution follows a
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