Tag: DRUG RESISTANCE

Misuse Of Antibiotics In Agriculture The Cause Of Antibiotic Resistance

Healthtimes

THERE is an increase in the world population as has been noted over the years and this demands an increase in production to meet the needs of people. Globally, farmers are becoming industrialized in order to meet consumer demand. In order to meet the consumer demand for meat from poultry and livestock, farmers are now excessively using antibiotics to prevent diseases and thereby increase production. Imprudent use of antibiotics in the animal sector has an impact on life-saving antibiotics which are becoming ineffective for treating bacterial infections. By Paradzai lnnocent…

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Take Prescribed TB Drugs Until End Of Course To Avoid Drug Resistance Retail Pharmacists Warn

Michael Gwarisa

 ZIMBABWE’S Retail Pharmacists Association (RPA) have raised concern over the growing cases of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DR TB) amidst indications that not less that 465 000 people fell ill with multiple-drug resistant TB in 2019. By Staff Reporter In a statement, Jocelyn Chaibva, the Chairperson, Retail Pharmacists Association said there was need to reach out to everyone and ensure no one is left behind. As community pharmacists, we are fully aware and appreciate that: The clock is ticking, hence our joining hands with the rest of the healthcare team on…

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2018 Cholera Drug Resistance Burden Linked To Poor Waste Management

Michael Gwarisa

IMPROPER disposal and management of waste in Zimbabwe has given rise to Antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR) especially for diarrhoeal diseases as people end up continuously taking antibiotics to manage recurring diseases, Director Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Portia Manangazira has said. By Michael Gwarisa The revelations also follows a recent study by local epidemiologists which concluded that the Cholera epidemic of 2018 which ravaged Zimbabwe, had high incidences of drug resistance which made it difficult to contain the disease using the…

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How Animal Medications Are Fueling Drug Resistance In Humans

Healthtimes

ITS 10:00 in the morning and a Harare man walks into one of the Agroshops licensed as Veterinary Medicine General Dealers in the central business district enquiring of a possible remedial solution for his dying chickens. By  Kudakwashe Pembere Panting heavily and with a sad look, he tells the cashier the symptoms. Even though the attendant advises that the man takes the dead chickens for a post mortem, he proceeds to dispense some Oxytetetracycline which he says could cure the birth flue and get rid of the bacterial infection. He…

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Cholera Cases Now Above 3000… Cholera Strain Drug Resistant

NewsRoom

A total of 3067 Cholera cases have been recorded in the in Glenview and Budiriro and some parts of the country amidst indications that the Cholera bacteria strain in Harare is drug resistant to the first line of antibiotics  Ciprofloxacin and Ceftriaxone, a health official has said By Michael Gwarisa Reports of a drug resistant bacteria comes at the wake of indications that the country could be in short supply of the second line drug Azithromycin which is also expensive and government is mobilising resources to procure the drug. Briefing…

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500 000 Lives In Danger As ARV Crisis Persists In Zimbabwe

NewsRoom

By Michael Gwarisa  NOT less than half a million lives are at risk of developing HIV drug resistance and full blown AIDS or dying if the prevailing shortages of Anti-Retroviral (ARVs) drugs particularly the second line regiment (Abacavir) is not resolved.  Speaking at a Joint Press Conference in Capital, the  Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+), Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights  (ZLHR) and the Diocese of Mutare Community Care Programme (DOMCCP) have bemoaned the lukewarm pace  concern over the slow pace at which the ongoing shortages  being resolved.…

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Allocate Foreign Currency Towards ARV Procurement-CWGH

NewsRoom

By Michael Gwarisa  THE Community Working Group on Heath (CWGH), has  called on government to prioritise allocation of foreign currency towards the procurement of Anti Retro Viral medicines ARVs amid revelations of massive ARV stockouts at public health centres and pharmacies. CWGH Executive director Itai Josh Rusike said it was disheartening that Zimbabwe which over the years made tremendous gains in reducing HIV/AIDS related deaths through multi-sectoral efforts, is now experiencing a serious shortage of Abacavir – a second line ARV drug to the extent that people taking that drug are…

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Zim ARV Shortage Could Trigger Massive Drug Resistance

NewsRoom

By Michael Gwarisa  ZIMBABWE today (21/08/2017) woke up to devastating news that the country’s public health and pharmaceutical institutions have been hit by massive Anti Retro Viral (ARV) drug shortages. According to an article in the Herald, HIV positive people on second line Abacavir ARV drugs are the most affected and they are being given a week’s supply of the drug instead of the traditional three moths supply due to stock outs. It is believed that the huge stock outs and shortages in drug supplies are being exacerbated by the…

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#BREAKING: New HIV Drug Resistant Virus Detected

NewsRoom

By Michael Gwarisa A new HIV Drug resistant virus has been detected in most parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed. According to its latest WHO HIV drug resistance report 2017, WHO notes that in 6 of the 11 countries surveyed in Africa, Asia and Latin America, over 10% of people starting antiretroviral therapy had a strain of HIV that was resistant to some of the most widely used HIV medicines. Once the threshold of 10% has been reached, WHO recommends those countries urgently review…

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