COVID-19 Archives - HealthTimes

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

April 26, 2023April 26, 2023 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

January 12, 2023 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

January 4, 2023January 4, 2023 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

September 26, 2022September 26, 2022 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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#BREAKING: Zimbabwe Scraps Masks Wearing Mandate For Vaccinated Citizens

August 16, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has announced that fully vaccinated citizens are no longer required to wear masks outdoors. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing Journalists during a Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Sen Mutsvangwa said, “Those who have been fully vaccinated are no longer mandated to wear masks in outdoor public.” She however added that people need carry their vaccination cards as evidence and they are are still required to wear masks indoors for example during indoor concerts etc, masks are mandatory. …More Details To Follow

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Zimbabwe Records 323 Adverse Reactions To COVID-19 Vaccines

August 1, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

A total 323 suspected COVID-19 Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI), had been reported to the Medicines Control of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) as of July, 8 2022. By Michael Gwarisa This is out of a cumulative total of 6.3 million 1st doses and 4.6 million 2nd doses of COVID-19 vaccines that have been administered since the National Vaccination program was launched in February 2021. This translates to a rate of approximately 0.003% suspected adverse events (approximately 3 reactions for every 10 000 doses administered). 70% of these 323 AEFI reports were received…

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Trust Issues Blamed For Low Vaccine Uptake in Zim-Study

April 11, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

SKEPTICISM around the Chinese manufactured vaccines, the Sinopharm and Sinovac has to a greater extent hampered the uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa This is according to data that was gathered during a COVID-19 Rapid Assessment that was conducted by Pangea Zimbabwe AIDS Trust between September and October 2021. Zimbabwe is currently ranked among the highest in Africa in terms of vaccinating its citizens. However, a number of factors have hindered the country’s progress towards attaining herd immunity where an ambitious target of vaccinating 10 million citizens…

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FACT’s Education Program A Resounding Success in Mutare Says Zim Government

March 29, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

EVEN though the pass rate in Mutare marginally dropped during the COVID-19 period, the district continues to enjoy a pass rate above 60%, while the number of adolescent girls, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) who remained in school has increased at the back of education and parenting interventions being implemented by the Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT), a top government official has said. By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare Through the Children Tariro (CT) project, FACT has been implementing education and parenting programs in Mutare, Mutasa and Chipinge districts with the…

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South Africa outlaws outdoor wearing of masks

March 23, 2022 Healthtimes

SOUTH Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa has made significant changes to his country’s COVID-19 regulations, undoing the outdoor wearing of masks. By Staff Reporter President Cyril Ramaphosa announced these changes on Tuesday in a televised statement on progress in national efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. As before, it is mandatory to wear a cloth mask or similar covering over the nose and mouthwhen in public indoor spaces. However, a mask is not required when outdoors. This means that we still need to wear masks when in shops, malls, offices, factories,…

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Zim Inks US$6.6 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Grant

March 9, 2022March 9, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE’S finance ministry, the World Bank Group, as the Fund Administrator of the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund have singed a US$6.6 Million COVID-19 response grant with the aim of supporting the deployment and management of COVID-19 vaccines. By Staff Reporter According to the World Bank, financing for the project, which comes in the form of a grant, aims to support the deployment and management of COVID-19 vaccines and strengthen related health system capacity in Zimbabwe. the grant will ensure adequate…

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