Tag: China

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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New WHO Findings On Possible Links Between COVID-19 And Chinese Sea Food Market Call For Action Against Zoonotic Diseases

Dingaan Mithi

By Dingaan Mithi For many months, there has been speculation on the possible origins of Covid-19. While there is no conclusive proof or evidence as to where exactly the virus originated from, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) blamed the Chinese government, pointing to a laboratory leakage of the virus, a new report by public health experts finds that Covid-19 could have originated in raccoon dogs. On 4 March 2023, scientists discovered accessions posted publicly on the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID), a global science initiative…

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Countries No Longer Sharing COVID-19 Sequencing Data- Dr Tedros

Michael Gwarisa

THE number of COVID-19 sequences being shared by countries has dropped by more than 90% while the number of countries sharing sequences has fallen by a third since the onset of the Omicron variant in 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a media briefing, WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was now difficult to give data relating to COVID-19 due to lack of sequencing data. It’s now three years since the first sequence of SARS-CoV-2 was shared with the world.…

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COVID-19 Rears Ugly Head Again As WHO meets with Chinese officials on current COVID-19 situation

Michael Gwarisa

A high-level meeting took place on 30 December between WHO and China about the current surge in COVID-19 cases, to seek further information on the situation, and to offer WHO’s expertise and further support. By Michael Gwarisa High-level officials from China’s National Health Commission and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration briefed WHO on China’s evolving strategy and actions in the areas of epidemiology, monitoring of variants, vaccination, clinical care, communication and R&D. WHO again asked for regular sharing of specific and real-time data on the epidemiological situation —…

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Zimbabwe Receives 2 Million More Vaccine Dosses From China

Michael Gwarisa

A total  2 million more doses of the Sinovac vaccine have arrived from China. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking soon after arrival of vaccines, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube said over 4 Million doses of vaccines have been received in the country every since the Vaccination program commenced in February this year.  The latest batch signifies our commitment to order more vaccines for the benefit of the nation,” said Minister Ncube. The Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro said, ” We are aware about…

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Involve Civil Society In COVID-19 Vaccine Processes To Get Community Buy in Says CWGH

Michael Gwarisa

THE Community Working Group of Health (CWGH) Executive Director Mr Itai Rusika has called on the Zimbabwean government to engage Civil Society Organizations throughout the the vaccine rollout process since they already have structures and active involvement at grassroots level. By Michael Gwarisa His call also comes hot on the heels of an announcement by deputy minister of health and child care Dr John Mangwiro where he said the vaccine would be distributed immediately  after after arrival to all the country’s 10 provinces. This has however not gone down well…

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OPINION: COVID-19 Home Remedies: Now You See Why We Should Preserve Biodiversity, Don’t You?

Michael Gwarisa

FOR more than 12 moths, the world has been at the mercy of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and to date, close to 100 million infections and 2.06 million deaths have been recorded globally. According to experts, the COVID-19 is the most significant public health problem since the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic By Michael Gwarisa Even though there is no cure yet for the COVID-19, the global recovery rate currently stands at 53.1 million. Majority of the COVID-19 cases have been reported…

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Call To Investigate China & WHO Over COVID-19 Spread Justified Says US Ambassador To Zim

Michael Gwarisa

CHINA was not sincere in reporting its Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections when the pandemic broke out in Wuhan, hence the need for a probe into China and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) hand in the prevailing global health crisis, United States (US) envoy to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Brian Nicholas has said. By Michael Gwarisa ` Ambassador Nicholas said this during an interview with ZIFM Stereo, a local radio station. He said President Donal Trump was justified to call for an inquest into China and the WHO as they both did not act…

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Zim Faces Surgical Masks Shortage…As Panic Over Coronavirus Grows

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE could soon be facing an acute shortage of surgical masks and other consumables amidst indications of  panic buying by Chinese nationals as they try to boost stocks in their home country in the face of the ravaging Coronavirus (COVID-19). By Michael Gwarisa China already has 150 new confirmed coronavirus deaths according to the National Health Commission, pushing the death toll nationwide to 2,592. Demand for surgical masks has been high in China since the plague was reported late December 2019, a situation which has seen diaspora Chinese stockpiling surgical…

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More People From Coronavirus Affected Countries Enter Zim

Healthtimes

OVER 1 400 people from the COVID-19 affected countries have entered Zimbabwe since the declaration of the pandemic as a public health emergency of international concern. By Kudakwashe Pembere This emerged during the second cabinet decision matrix for 2020. Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo at the Interministeral meeting on COVID 19 last week had said the number was 741. Media,Information and Broadcasting  services minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said to date, 1 433 travellers have been reported to have passed through Zimbabwe’s ports of entry that are screening…

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