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OP ED Opinion

Open letter to His Excellency Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the President for the Republic of Zimbabwe on his re-election in September 2023

Michael Gwarisa

Now that the elections are over, the people of Zimbabwe expect the fulfilment of the election manifesto, in which you promised massive improvement in health infrastructure; more health personnel; accessible and affordable medicines; free medical care for cancer patients; at least one hospital per district, improved health services in resettlement areas, reduction of hospital fees

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OP ED Opinion

The curious case of Cement Dust Pollution in Mabvuku: The healthcare cost and who is paying for it

Michael Gwarisa

By Dr Nyasha Manyeruke WHOSE fault is it? Compensation and reparations? The debate on healthcare and industrial, and air pollution is a global quagmire. Is the industrial industry at fault when it is concurrently spearheading economic growth and job creation? Are the people who continue to live in polluted air partly to blame for their

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Health Financing OP ED Opinion

Private Health Insurance (Medical Aid) and Huge Shortfalls in Zimbabwe: Policymakers playing ducks and drakes

Michael Gwarisa

By: Enock Musungwini, MPH, MBA Introduction A shortfall is the difference between what a health service provider charges for a patient’s treatment and what the medical insurance company will pay for that service. Shortfalls are sometimes presented as a co-payment, which is the gap between what the Private Health Insurance (PHI) company or medical aid

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Community Response Health News OP ED Opinion

Recognition and support for village health workers in Zimbabwe: Panacea to ensure the success of primary health care and universal health coverage

Michael Gwarisa

By: Enock Musungwini, MPH, MBA The Zimbabwe Village Health Worker programme began in the 1980s, soon after independence, with the aim of enhancing access to primary health care (PHC) services in line with the then Alma Ata Declaration (1978) and now the Astana Declaration (2018) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC 2030). According to the World

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OP ED Opinion REPRODUCTIVE SRHR

As International Safe Abortion Day Draws Closer, Its Time To Reflect on progress towards access to safe abortion for women and girls

Michael Gwarisa

The 28th of September is International Safe Abortion Day, and it has two themes: “Diverse Actions, Different Places, One Demand: Access to Safe and Legal Abortion Now” and “Abortion in Uncertain Times.” By Edinah Masiyiwa These themes speak to me as an advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights, and they give me energy

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OP ED Opinion REPRODUCTIVE SRHR

Abortion policy and the vicious cycle of poverty

Michael Gwarisa

By Memory Pamella Kadau The previous instalment submitted that abortion doesn’t bring about a moral dilemma as middle ground propagation would argue. It’s clear that safe abortion services should be made accessible to women and this demands policy and legal reforms. This article explored how existing policy framework on abortion perpetuates the vicious cycle of

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OP ED Opinion REPRODUCTIVE SRHR

Comprehensive Post Abortion Care is an Essential Component of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Critical for the Attainment of Health Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Michael Gwarisa

In my years of experience working in sexual reproductive health (SRH), the most topical debates include the topics of unintended pregnancies, teenage pregnancies, sexual gender based violence (SGBV), and abortion among others. Termination of Pregnancy (abortion) is one of the most controversial and emotive issues across the social realm in a conservative society like Zimbabwe.

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OP ED Opinion

A Dangerous Prognosis: Vulnerable migrants obstructed from getting essential maternal and child healthcare services due to Gauteng hospital payment policies and politics

Michael Gwarisa

In South Africa, reports of xenophobic incidents are a daily reality but the use of the country’s strained public health system by migrants is now a hot-button issue as impartial access to healthcare has become highly politicized in recent days. By Dr Tasanya Chinsamy To reach a political objective, Operation Dudula’s anti-migrant protestors targeted the

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OP ED Opinion REPRODUCTIVE SRHR

The Politics of The Uterus

Michael Gwarisa

The Lack of Adequate Information and Awareness on Safe Abortion Services among Young Women and Girls is Promoting Continuous Clandestine Abortions By Mufaro Musiyazviriyo The term abortion, generally makes people uncomfortable! In my work as a Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Program Officer, often times, I conduct awareness raising trainings and focus group discussions

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Opinion

Letter To The Editor: Mental Health issues among men worrying

Michael Gwarisa

Dear Editor I am writing to express my concern over the issue of suicides among men in our country. These suicides are being taken lightly as most of them are widely shared and discussed on social media where close to no serious deliberations and a call to action is being reached. This year alone, we

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