Tag: CWGH

Naming & Shaming Quarantine Escapees Fuel COVID-19 Stigma

Michael Gwarisa

IN as much as disclosure of names and details of quarantine escapees is good for managing and controlling the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19, the practice fuels stigma and discrimination for escapees and COVID-19 affected and infected individuals, the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH)  has warned. By Michael Gwarisa In a statement, CWGH Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said as an organization, they abhor the naming and shaming of people who escape from the country’s quarantine centres by government as this excerbates and entrenches stigma and discrimination against the escapees…

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Gvt Criticised For Dumping COVID-19 Expenses On Citizens

Michael Gwarisa

THE Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has taken a swipe at government for imposing mandatory testing and wearing of face masks for citizens and employees without putting in place measures to ensure the services are available to citizens at subsidized rates or no cost at all. By Michael Gwarisa A survey conducted by HealthTimes indicates that a COVID-19 test at a private health facility is within the range of US$25 and US$50 per worker whereas in some instances, some facilities are charging between US$60 and US$70 per employee. According…

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CWGH Salutes Zim Front-line Health Workers Fighting COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

THE Community Working Group On Health (CWGH) has paid tribute to health workers at the forefront of the COVID-19 battle despite Zimbabwe’s health delivery system being in shambles. By Michael Gwarisa In their workers day solidarity day message, CWGH Executive Director Mr Itai Rusike said it was high time government recognizes health workers and pay meaningful and livable wages. This year’s national Worker’s Day theme; “Stop Covid-19 Pandemic: Scale up social protection and dialogue, save jobs and pay a living wage”, befits the current environment which emphasizes stopping the spread…

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Consult Before Extending Lockdwon, Health Experts Warn

Michael Gwarisa

PUBLIC health experts have called on President Emerson Mnangagwa to consult various stakeholders from all sectors before instituting a lockdown extension. By Michael Gwarisa Even though President Emmerson Mnangagwa has not announced any plans to extend the Lockdown, various sections of the economy believe an extension should not be a copy and paste scenario. Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said the lockdown extension needs extensive consultations lest innocent lives will be endangered especially those who rely heavily on the informal sector. The lockdown extension…

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#COVID-19: Share Correct Information To Avoid Stigma & Discrimination

Michael Gwarisa

THE Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has called on government and its stakeholders to be consistent in theory information dissemination processes to curd stigma and discrimination associated with the virus. By Michael Gwarisa CWGH Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said in as much as they  commend the government for putting additional precautionary measures against the possible spread of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), there should be a systematic means of sharing information to the public. Zimbabwe has so far recorded three confirmed cases of the disease which has killed thousands of…

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Desperate Zimbos Turn To Crowd Funding For Healthcare Financing

Michael Gwarisa

IN a country where medical aid coverage is less than 10 percent, ordinary Zimbabweans who can’t afford medical aid cover and health insurance have found solace in crowd funding initiatives for critical surgeries and treatment for complicated ailments. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Association of Healthcare Funders Zimbabwe (AHFoZ), medical aid coverage has dropped from a high of 10 percent in 2018 to the current  9 percent, making it untenable for majority of Zimbabweans whose life savings and hard earned cash has turned into manure since August 2018 at…

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CSOs Pressure Gvt To Appoint New NAC Board and CEO

Michael Gwarisa

THE National AIDS Council (NAC) which has gone for more than 365 days with neither a  substantive board nor Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has come under fire from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who believe the development was impacting negatively on the national HIV response. By Michael Gwarisa Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo dissolved the NAC board a year ago a few weeks after former NAC CEO, Dr Tapuwa Magure had resigned. Since January 2019, Mr Raymond Yekeye the NAC Operations Manager and Mr Alfred Manenji the Finance…

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Cut Expenditure On Military and Channel Funds To Health

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe national budget should cease prioritising military expenditure and channel funds towards the ailing health sector in order to reduce internal conflict from disgruntled healthcare workers. By Michael Gwarisa Giving an analysis of the 2020 Health Budget, Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said the 2020 budget has remained static and largely uninspiring and the humongous allocation of fund to the military was worrisome. While the Ministries of Basic Education and Health got the second and third highest votes after agriculture, their allocations at…

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Traditional Midwives Not Allowed In Zim Says Gvt

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) does not encourage traditional midwives to deliver babies nor offer maternal health related services to pregnant women, a top government official has warned. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes in the wake of what has been described as “heroic works” of one Mbare traditional midwife, Mrs Esther Gwena who has since delivered more than 100 babies at her home. However, the babies are being delivered in the absence of critical health sundries such as, disinfectants, safe delivery kits, running water and proper…

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Dump Disciplinary Action and Pursue Dialogue With Doctors-Gvt Warned

Michael Gwarisa

INSTITUTING disciplinary action on striking doctors would only worsen an already fragile health system in Zimbabwe, health experts have warned. By Michael Gwarisa Junior doctors in Zimbabwe abandoned their workstations early September, 2019 citing incapacitation as a result of the meagre wages which they say can hardly sustain their daily needs. Government has since declared the job action illegal through a Labour Court victory but this however, has not moved the striking doctors with the medical practitioners maintaining that they are still incapacitated and a court order was not useful…

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