Decolonising HIV Research through the MATRIX

FOUR decades ago, the HIV virus was discovered and since then, millions of lives have been lost as a result. With no cure in sight as yet, a number of innovations have been developed to either prevent and or reduce chances of getting infected with the HIV virus. By Michael Gwarisa This has seen cases of new HIV infections and deaths reducing and now more than ever, People Living with HIV (PLHIV) live long and fulfilling lives just like anyone else. The number of children being born with HIV has…

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Zim readies incorporation of Cabotegravir into local PrEP guidelines

FOLLOWING the approval for use of Cabotegravir (CAB-LA) in Zimbabwe by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) last year, the country is expected to have incorporated the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of this long-acting HIV preventive method into its own HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in June. By Kudakwashe Pembere That the WHO guidelines would be incorporated into Zimbabwe’s was revealed by renowned HIV Prevention expert Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi last week in a media science café organized by the Health Communicators Forum (HCF). Zimbabwe is the first African country to…

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Zim Women Doctors Making Waves

IN the beginning, the medical profession was sacred ground and somehow, a preserve for men. However over the years, women have made remarkable contributions to the field of medicine. As women around the world were permitted to graduate from medical schools, their accomplishments became more influential and far-reaching. In 1847, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. She was born in England but raised and educated in New York City. Years later, more women in Europe and the Americas enrolled for…

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#BREAKING: Dapivirine, Vaginal Ring Approved For Use In Zimbabwe

IN what is likely to be a major breakthrough for Zimbabwe’s HIV response, the Dapivirine or Vaginal Ring, a tool meant to expand HIV prevention options for women has been approved for use in Zimbabwe, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa The Vaginal ring was submitted to the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) for review on March, 5 2021 and according to MCAZ procedures, approval for a medical drug or innovation usually takes between three months or a few years, depending on the completeness of the technical information that…

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COVID-19 Won’t Affect Vaginal Ring Rollout In Zimbabwe- Dr Mgodi

THE prevailing COVID-19 pandemic will not affect rollout of the Dapivirine ring or Vaginal ring, an HIV prevention ring for women,  HIV expert and histopathologist who was also the Dapirivirine ring study chairperson in Africa, Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi has said. By Michael Gwarisa Dr Mugodi’s comments come at the back of indications that COVID-19 could have disrupted access to healthcare services and rollout of certain programs across the globe over the past 12 months. In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Mgodi said the ring has already received its pre-qualification from…

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Dapirivirine Ring Not Substitute For Other HIV Prevention Methods- Dr Mgodi

Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi MBChB, MMed, Investigator of Record, HPTN-084 Zimbabwe – University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences Clinical Trials Research Centre, and HPTN Executive Committee Member

THE Dapirivirine Vaginal Ring, a new effective HIV prevention tool for women, is not a substitute for existing  HIV prevention methods but rather an innovation to expand prevention options for women, Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi an HIV expert and histopathologist   has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a Twitter Question and Answer session that was organized by HealthTimes, Dr Mgodi said women need safe and effective biomedical HIV prevention strategies for use throughout their lives and the Dapirivirine ring presented women with such an opportunity. Studies of other HIV prevention…

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HealthTimes To Host Live Twitter Q&A To Unpack The Dapirivine Ring, A Groundbreaking HIV Prevention Tool For Women

HEALTHTIMES, Zimbabwe’s leading online health news publication will this Thursday, August 2020 host an hour-long conversation to discuss and unpack the Dapirivine Vaginal Ring, a tool meant to reduce the risk of HIV infection in women. By Patricia Mashiri The Question and Answer (Q&A) will start at 11:00 in the morning and end at 12:00 pm and will be hosted on HealthTimes twitter platform @healthtimeszim. The live twitter Q&A is set to give citizens and women in general an opportunity to interact with Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi, an expert in HIV…

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Over 8 000 Zimbabweans on PrEP

ZIMBABWE has to date managed to initiate over 8 000 people on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis  (PrEP) since commencement of the project in 2016, a government official said on Thursday.   By Kudakwashe Pembere Currently administered in the form of tablets, PrEP has been studied to be effective in the protection of HIV negative people against the disease. Since adoption of PrEP as a preventive measure against STIs in Zimbabwe in 2016, about 8 482 people have been initiated. Ministry of Health and Childcare National HIV Prevention Coordinator Ms Getrude Ncube told…

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