Tag: Dr Donald Tobaiwa

Stop TB Partnership Zimbabwe Concludes Regional stakeholders Consultation meetings on UNHLM 2023

Michael Gwarisa

The Stop TB Partnership in Zimbabwe has just concluded a series of regional consultative meetings on the UNHLM 2023, in a bit to enhance the participation of communities and to sensitize, engage, and consult stakeholders in preparation for the UNHLM on TB to be held from September20 to  22, 2023. By Michael Gwarisa A total of three regional meetings were held in Harare (covering Harare Metropolitan, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, and Mashonaland Central Provinces), Bulawayo (covering Bulawayo Metropolitan, Masvingo, Matebeleland North, Matebeleland South, and Midlands Provinces) and Mutare (covering Manicaland…

Read More

Workplace Stigma Against TB Survivors On The Rise In Zimbabwe

Kuda Pembere

Documented cases of discrimination against TB patients and survivors in the workplace environment, have  been increasing over the years been reported in most settings in Zimbabwe with some employers going to the extent of dismissing survivors under unclear circumstances. By Kudakwashe Pembere recently in Kwekwe This was revealed during the presentation of the Community Rights and Gender Assessment findings in Kwekwe on Wednesday by Jointed Hands Welfare Organization (JHWO) director Dr Donald Tobaiwa. He said they learned from the assessment that a lot of former miners were dismissed without getting…

Read More

Ministry of Health to deploy advanced AI Tool for TB detection

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…

Read More

Risk Of TB Infection 18 Times Higher In Zimbabwe’s Artisanal Miners

Michael Gwarisa

PROLONGED exposure to silica dust and a lack of protective gear, places Artisanal Small Scale Miners at greater risk of Tuberculosis (TB) infection compared to other population groups. By Michael Gwarisa recently inn Kwekwe Zimbabwe is one of the three countries in Southern Africa that has the highest number of artisanal small scale miners with Tanzania leading the pack, followed by Mozambique and then Zimbabwe on third place out of the 15 SADC countries. Data gathered from a Care and TB program that is being conducted by the Baines Occupational…

Read More

Stakeholders Push For National TB In The Workplace Policy

Michael Gwarisa

THE Stop TB Partnership Zimbabwe, Parliament, the private sector and other key stakeholders have amplified calls to have a national Workplace TB policy which will guide the implementation of TB and wellness programs in the workplace. By Michael Gwarisa in Kwekwe Even though most companies in the private sector have wellness policies in place, TB stakeholders believe a standalone TB policy framework would ensure the diseases is prioritized and given the attention it deserves. Speaking during a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Engagement Meeting that was hosted by the Stop TB…

Read More

Zim Hosts One Impact Mobile App Familiarisation Meeting

Michael Gwarisa

VARIOUS stakeholders from the heath sector converged in Macheke, Mashonaland East to familiarise with the One-Health Mobile application, a tool which is set to become a key strategic response to combatting the challenges faced by Tuberculosis (TB) survivors and communities affected by TB as well as overcome bottlenecks in ending the TB epidemic. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes on the side-lines of the One Impact Planning meeting in Macheke on Friday, 14 May 2022, Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation (JHWO) Executive Director, Dr Donald Tobaiwa said, “Today’s meeting…

Read More

Hunger Forcing TB Patients To Abandon Medications In Rural Communities

Michael Gwarisa

THE growing food insecurity situation could derail the national Tuberculosis (TB) response amidst indications that some TB patients from rural and peri-urban areas are already defaulting on their medications citing some adverse drug reactions after taking the tablets and medications on an empty stomach for a prolonged period. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is currently faced with a food insecurity situation and according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), between 40 percent and 60 percent of the country’s population could be food insecure by September, 2022.This according to…

Read More

Zimbabwe To Host Inaugural Light-up for TB Campaign

Michael Gwarisa

FOR the first time in history, Zimbabwe will this year host a Light Up for TB campaign, which is a global campaign to draw attention to the 1.5 million deaths caused by TB each year and to show solidarity to the millions of people affected. Every year countries across the world come together on this day by lighting up buildings and significant monuments in RED. Speaking on the Light Up Campaign, Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation Executive Director, Dr Donald Tobaiwa urged cities and towns to take advantage of the Lights…

Read More

Bulawayo Has Highest TB Death Rate In Zimbabwe…Overcrowding In Cowdry and Squatter Camps Fertile breeding ground for TB

Michael Gwarisa

…Parliament appeals for more funding for to end TB in Zimbabwe THE City of Bulawayo currently has the highest TB death rate of 16 percent, which is higher than the nationally set target of less than 5 percent, due to a myriad of risk factors chief among them being the high TB/HIV co-infection, delayed presentation at health facilities and rampart overcrowding in some of the city’s settlements. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Kadoma From the death audits carried out by the Bulawayo City council quarterly, the incidents of deaths are…

Read More