Tag: COVID-19

COVID-19 Remains a Top Cause of Acute Respiratory Infections in Zimbabwe, Study Finds

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Although COVID-19 is no longer classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), in Zimbabwe, the virus still accounts for a significant number of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) cases across the country. This insight emerged during a presentation of key findings from a study conducted by Mutala Trust, a leading research organization in Zimbabwe, which focused on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and other respiratory illnesses. According to the research, the burden of respiratory diseases, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children aged zero to 60…

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Conservation Is The Firewall To Future Public Health Threats Says AWF Boss

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In 2020, the world went into a total lockdown following the declaration of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) as a global health pandemic. The coronavirus is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Cases of novel coronavirus were first detected in China in December 2019, with the virus spreading rapidly to other countries worldwide. This led WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020 and to characterise the outbreak as a pandemic on 11 March…

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AVAC Facilitates Translation of Health and Scientific Terms Into 10 African Languages

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to bridge information gaps between scientific research and community understanding, AVAC has launched the Translation Index, a translation of health and scientific terms into vernacular languages for Six African countries. The Translation Index offers health journalists accurate translations of commonly used and essential medical terms in their native languages in six African countries namely Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. At this time the Translation Index supports the following languages: Bemba, Cichewa, Dholuo, Kiswahili, Luganda, Ndebele, Runyankore, Shona, Tonga, and Tumbuka. We welcome…

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Household Food Insecurity Worries Pushed Mental Health Challenges During COVID-19 In Zimbabwe

Ntokozo Gudu

Rosalina Mutekedza (38), a single mother from Warren Park 1 in Harare is happy the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided and there is no more need for any restrictions and lockdowns to contain the spread of the diseases. By Ntokozo Gudu Above all, she is happy that now she can fend for her three children without any fear of breaking the law. She recalls how the COVID-19 induced lockdowns almost drive her into depression owing to uncertainty they brought. I was worried. During the first 21 days of the COVID-19, i…

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EGPAF Helps Government Set-up Long COVID Clinic In Zim

Kuda Pembere

With some Zimbabweans still grappling with Long COVID, Zimbabwe needs support to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 while strengthening its pandemic preparedness and response, a top Ministry of Health and Child Care official said on Wednesday. By Kuda Pembere Addressing a Catalysing COVID-19 Action (CCA) high level stakeholder meeting, Health and Child Care Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze represented by Epidemiology and Disease Control Director Dr Rudo Chikodzore said the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world at a time when most health systems were ill-prepared. The Catalyzing COVID-19 Action (CCA)…

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When Facts Are Not Enough: COVID-19 Pandemic Exposes Widening Gaps In Vaccine Confidence

Michael Gwarisa

“I was vaccinated because it was mandatory at work. I had two options, get vaccinated, or go home. I chose the former,” says Theresa Manongwa,* an employee with TelOne, one of Zimbabwe’s leading Telecommunications company. By Michael Gwarisa In July, 2021, TelOne, issued a statement announcing that it would send its unvaccinated staff on forced leave until the country’s COVID-19 situation had subsided. Caught between being sent on forced leave and the prospects of losing her job had the situation persisted, Theresa felt compelled to get her vaccine shots despite…

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The Big Catch Up: Zimbabwe Launches Integrated Vaccination Drive To Cover Lost Ground

Michael Gwarisa

IN a move that is set to catapult Zimbabwe’s vaccination coverage to dizzy heights, the country has already started implementing an integrated vaccination drive in communities mainly prioritizing  Human papillomavirus vaccines (HPV), COVID-19, Tetanus and Diphtheria (DT). By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s integrated vaccination drive is in line with the “The Big Catch-up”, a targeted global effort to boost vaccination among children following declines driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign is being led by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates…

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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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Chipinge Broken Homes and Blended Families Give Rise Mental Health challenges in adolescents and children

Michael Gwarisa

WHEN his parents divorced in 2016, Panashe Dzvivu (19) from Chipinge urban, was doing form three and preparing to write his Ordinary level (O level) examinations the following year. Following the divorce, his father went into neighbouring South Africa and never looked back, leaving him under the custody of his unemployed mother. After some time, he was forced to drop out of school due to non-payment of school fees. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Chipinge Panashe was forced to juggle between school and a part welding job to pay for…

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