Category: Op Ed

A special feature section for guest columnists

Experts Warn of Funeral Scams: How to Avoid Them

Healthtimes

By Own Correspondent As funerals grow increasingly expensive, with attended services in Australia averaging $8,745 and larger events reaching up to $15,000, it’s become more important than ever for Australian families to protect themselves from being ripped off. Not only do the exorbitant costs of a funeral warrant extra scrutiny and care, but falling prey to a scam can further compound the financial hardship, adding to the emotional toll on grieving families. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has noted a significant rise in complaints related to funeral services…

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The Adultification of Pregnant Children Seeking Antenatal Care in Harare

Chipo Tsitsi Mlambo

By Chipo Tsitsi Mlambo The adultification of pregnant children refers to a bias in which adults treat minors as if they possess the maturity and understanding of adults. In Zimbabwe, this bias is particularly evident when pregnant children seek antenatal care in urban centers like Harare. Phrases such as “Watoo amai, watokura” (You are now a mother, you are a grown-up) or “Wakaita zvevakuru” (You engaged in a grown-up act i.e. sex) imply that once a girl becomes pregnant, she is no longer viewed as a 14 or 15- year-old…

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The reality behind the ‘Chinese debt trap’ myth in Africa

Healthtimes

By Hannah Ryde For years, there have been sweeping concerns of African countries falling “victim” to a Chinese “debt trap” – whereby Chinese lenders provide unsustainable loans to African countries. Such narratives are problematic, as African countries are portrayed as inferior or incompetent in their engagement with Chinese creditors, while their Chinese counterparts are presented as predatory in their engagement with Africa. Indeed, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed these narratives emerging once again, despite vast amounts of data debunking this theory. This narrative is also extremely harmful, as it…

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Monkeypox: A Global Health Threat – who sounds the Alarm?

Healthtimes

By Dr. Amit Singh Monkeypox is a viral disease of animal origin. It occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions.  Common symptoms of mpox include a rash which may last for 2–4 weeks. This may start with, or be followed by, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands (lymph nodes). The rash looks like blisters or sores, and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital and/or anal regions.…

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Collaboration In Workplace Mental Health Leads To A Healthier Workforce

Abigail T.S. Mudokwani

By Abigail T.S. Mudokwani The World Health Organisation (WHO), estimates that depression and anxiety cause twelve billion lost working days annually, and that the diminished productivity caused by these two mental health issues alone costs the world economy $1 trillion (USD) annually. As a result, there is an increasing need for creating psychologically safe work environments. As employers deepen their focus on mental health, a debate has inadvertently been sparked on who between the employer and the employee is responsible for workplace mental health. One school of thinking holds that…

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Major Unethical Medical Experiments That Rocked Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Ethics can be defined as principles of morality, particularly those dealing with right or wrong of an action. Just like any profession, medical practitioners are expected to adhere to ethical practices in their day to day conduct as the profession involves saving lives and restoring hope in people. The profession is more than just a white coat where professionalism should transcend technical expertise. A report on Ethics in the medical field by Avalon University states that Ethical practices lead to more informed decisions, fewer errors, and better…

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The Church’s Role In Addressing Mental Health Challenges Amongst Believers

Chaplain Simbarashe Chenjerai

By Chaplain Simbarashe Chenjerai The world is facing a plethora of challenges such wars, famines, unemployment, droughts, cyclones among other ills. This has resulted in a number of public health challenges including mental health related woes. Over the years, there has been an increase in the incidence of drug and substance abuse, depression, anxiety among other mental health challenges. It is against this background that this article seeks to explore the role of the Church in addressing the growing mental health scourge. Christians and believers are not immune to mental…

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The Need For Youth-Friendly Adolescent Sexual And Reproductive Health Services

Olindah Tariro Chademana

By Olindah Tariro Chademana According to the United Nations, youths are individuals aged between 15 and 24 years. Youth-friendly services, as defined by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), are health services that respect the rights of young people and take their diverse sexual and reproductive lives into account. The World Health Organisation (WHO) supports this definition and adds that youth-friendly health services should be trusted and catered specifically to young people, with the principles of accessibility, acceptability, equity, appropriateness, and effectiveness in mind. It is crucial that health and…

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The cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

By Phillip Aruna Zimbabwe is grappling with the second-biggest outbreak of cholera in its history, with cases rapidly spreading across the country. It started on 12 February 2023, and to date, more than 600 people have died from cholera, and over 35,000 have been infected. To prevent people from continuously falling sick and to save lives, Zimbabwe has to invest in its water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. Bacteria living in water causes cholera, a potentially deadly disease. Access to clean water, proper sanitation infrastructure, and hygiene measures reduce the…

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Rebuilt from Ruin: Overcoming the Psychological Scars of Injury

Healthtimes

For professional athletes and gym rats, a major injury is a brutal blow. It’s not just the throbbing pain and logistical nightmares, but the mental gut punch of being benched from your passion. After physio purgatory and a clean bill of health, you might think you’re good to go. But hold up – there’s often a mental hurdle to clear. Fear of re-injury or losing your skills can leave you stuck on the sidelines. This awfully often happens with the players in the Premier League in recent years, making managers…

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