Zimbabwe Marks First International Paramedics Day as New Emergency Care Law Takes Effect
By Kuda Pembere HARARE – Zimbabwe commemorated its first-ever International Paramedics Day on Tuesday, with health officials using the occasion to highlight the newly gazetted Medical Services Amendment Act, which makes the provision of emergency medical care a legal obligation for both public and private health institutions. The event brought together more than 30 public
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Zimbabwe Becomes First in Africa, Fourth Globally to Attain WHO Maturity Level 4
By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe has become the first country in Africa and only the fourth globally to attain the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) Maturity Level 4, the highest international standard for medicines regulation. The milestone was revealed on Wednesday by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, during a
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Mpilo HIV Laboratory Hits 100% Solar Power, Boosts Viral Load Testing Capacity to Over 7,000 Samples Monthly
Michael Gwarisa in Bulawayo Mpilo Central Hospital’s HIV laboratory has transitioned to 100 percent solar power, a development health officials say is improving the quality of HIV viral load samples, reducing testing failures, and strengthening patient care for thousands of people living with HIV in Zimbabwe. The upgrade was carried out under a Ministry of
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Three Minutes to a Diagnosis: How Digital X-Rays Are Transforming Rural Healthcare
Michael Gwarisa in Manicaland Despite the scorching heat, 58-year-old Fibion Nyatsanza (Not his real name), from Saumani village in the Honde Valley is determined to find out what has been keeping him awake at night for the past three weeks. Shortly after midday, he walks through the gates of Hauna District Hospital, clad in a
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From Crisis Response to Lasting Reform: How Zimbabwe Is Building a Stronger Health System from COVID-19 Investments
Michael Gwarisa in Mahusekwa At Mahusekwa Hospital, what once passed for a pharmacy was a cramped room that struggled to serve an entire district. Medicines were often in short supply, storage conditions were far from ideal, and patients frequently travelled long distances only to leave empty-handed or be referred to Marondera for treatment. For Sekuru
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Vaccine Storage Temperature Guidelines: What Health Facilities Must Know
Michael Gwarisa Vaccines are temperature-sensitive biological products, and even small changes in temperature during storage or transport can significantly reduce their safety and effectiveness. While all vaccines are sensitive to heat, some can also be damaged by freezing or exposure to light. To ensure potency throughout the immunisation supply chain, the World Health Organization (WHO)
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US Faces Greater Disease Risk as Global Health Coordination Weakens
Michael Gwarisa A year after the United States withdrew its support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), experts warn the country is now more vulnerable to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. The US is experiencing one of its most severe influenza seasons in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Cimas Health Group Partners Smilestar, a United Kingdom-Based Dental Organisation
By Staff Reporter In a successful partnership aimed at improving oral healthcare access for underserved communities, Smilestar, a UK-based charity dental organization, joined forces with Cimas Health Group, Zimbabwe’s longest-established private medical aid society. Together, they conducted a two-week dental outreach program in Matabeleland North, offering essential services to remote populations. The outreach, which concluded on
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Rare Diseases – Facing Challenges with Limited Access to Medication
By:Retlaw Matatu Matorwa Zimbabwe, like many Sub-Saharan African countries has been grappling with the challenge of rare diseases. Rare diseases are classified as any disease that affects fewer than 5 in 10,000 people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are over 7,000 rare diseases, and they are often chronic, progressive, and life-threatening. There
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