Tech-Health News Archives

Getting Tough On Vaping Drives People Into Smoking Combustible Tobacco

September 7, 2023September 7, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

Despite the massive crackdown on smoking in the form of bans and taxes, coupled with well-coordinated misinformation around emerging Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) alternatives, World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows that at least 8 million smokers continue to die from smoking-related diseases on an annual basis while one million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke also die from passive smoking. By Michael Gwarisa Overall smoking rates in Africa remain low by international comparisons, with a prevalence of 8.4 percent across the continent. While smoking prevalence is relatively low on…

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Zim startup’s Cancer diagnostic application wins Cyber Cybertech Africa Security and Blockchain Hackathon

August 28, 2023August 28, 2023 Kuda Pembere

A Zimbabwean startup company which developed a computer application that detects cancers emerged the winner of this year’s Cyber Cybertech Africa Security and Blockchain Hackathon competition held in Kigali, Rwanda. By Kuda Pembere The application was developed by Clarity Technologies which comprises of four persons namely Collins Jimu and Zvikomborero Duri who are software engineers, Terry Mdiwa, a business executive and and Dr Koshesayi Madzika a lawyer. The company bagged the first prize earning themselves US$5 000 after outwitting 120 other competitors from other countries. In an interview, Mr Collins…

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Zimbabwe Pilots Rapid Diagnostic Testing for Prompt Bilharzia Testing and Case Identification At Point of Care

August 3, 2023August 3, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

Professor Qin Zhiqing, an Associate Professor at the China National Institute of Parasitic Diseases (NIPR) has been in Zimbabwe for the past two months and together with a team from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), a department in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), they have been conducting a Schistosomiasis pilot study in Shamva District. By Michael Gwarisa As part of their study, they are also assessing the use of Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDT) to detect and identify Schistosomiasis Cases in communities. At a laboratory site…

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UNFPA Zimbabwe Explores Use Of Drones To Reach Women and Girls In Inaccessible Areas With Services

August 2, 2023August 2, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

The United Nations Population Fund in Zimbabwe (UNFPA-Zimbabwe), says it will soon be rolling out Drone Technology to deliver services to women and girls in hard-to-reach areas. By Michael Gwarisa The move is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which recognize innovation as critical to accelerating progress towards global development aspirations as it ensures they deliver on their three transformative results to end preventable maternal death, end unmet need for family planning, and end violence gender-based violence (GBV) and all harmful practices, including female genital mutilation and child…

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SAT launches YouthWyz mobile app

July 10, 2023 Kuda Pembere

THE Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Africa Trust (SAT) on Friday launched a mobile application meant to provide adolescents with information on where and how to access sexual reproductive health services. By Kuda Pembere The application was established on the back of the high demand of SRHR issues. Prior the application development, there were physical YouthWyz hubs but for ease of access to some of the services, SAT with the help of various partners and Dure Technologies, an application developer creased it YouthWyz app. YouthWyz is a digital hub I know…

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Ministry of Health to deploy advanced AI Tool for TB detection

July 3, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

AT a time the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare has grown across the globe, the Ministry of Health and Child (MoHCC) is set to launch a Computer-Aided Detection Artificial Intelligence tool (CAD AI), to screen for Tuberculosis (TB). By Michael Gwarisa The move comes at a time Zimbabwe is making headway towards addressing the TB burden as evidenced by the country’s removal from the world’s top 30 list of countries heavily burdened by TB. Zimbabwe now has a double burden of TB/HIV and MDR-TB. In an interview with…

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Zimbabwe’s Health Sector Goes Green with Solar Powered Electronic Health Records

June 13, 2023June 13, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), is rolling out “Impilo,” an Electronic Health Records (EHR) system, which is meant to improve efficiency in the health sector through enhancing data collection, management, patients’ care as well as improve communication between health practitioners and patients. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Ministry of Health, they intend to have fully deployed the system in the entire healthcare sector by December 2023. The roll-out of the Impilo is being supported by key specialized systems like the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), the…

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West End Clinic acquires new ophthalmic equipment

November 8, 2022 Healthtimes

West End Clinic has acquired an advanced diagnostic and surgical machine which will enhance the safety and efficiency of cataract removal procedures by surgeons at the institution. By Staff Reporter The clinic’s manager Pharoah Makarudze said the new CataRhex 3 Phaco machine will help surgeons carry out treatment procedures for cataract removals in a more efficient way that reduces costs and healing time for patients. We bought a new Phaco machine at a cost of more than US$32 000 as we step up efforts to upgrade our hospital equipment and…

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Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health On Course To Fully Deploy Paperless System By December 2023

October 31, 2022October 31, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

Impilo, an Electronic Health Records (EHR) system which is currently being rolled out in Zimbabwe’s health facilities, is set to improve efficiency in the health sector through enhancing data collection, management, patients’ care as well as improving communication between health practitioners and patients. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing Journalists in Kadoma during a Results Based Financing (RBF) model for healthcare media sensitization meeting, Dr Robert Gongora, the National EHR Coordinator in the Ministry of Health and Child Care said their priority as is to accelerate the rollout/coverage and usage of electronic…

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Solar Energy Gives Zimbabwe’s Expanded Programme on Immunization Continuity

October 19, 2022October 19, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

It’s an early Wednesday morning and Sister Marian Fadzi, the District Nursing Officer and her team at Mahusekwa District Hospital in Marondera are already preparing for a hectic day ahead where they intend to vaccinate children against Measles under the ongoing national measles vaccination drive. In a few days’ time, they will also commence a supplementary Polio vaccination programme at the Hospital as well as across all other 24 other health facilities in Marondera district. By Michael Gwarisa Despite the ongoing power outages due to prolonged load shedding schedules which…

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