Fund your own healthcare US Embassy tells Zimbabwe

By Staff Reporter The U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe has urged the Zimbabwean government to take responsibility for its citizens’ healthcare. On Tuesday, the Trump administration issued a waiver allowing the continuation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and other medical services under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). However, according to the U.S. Embassy, other programs remain on hold. With the specifics of the waiver unclear, Zimbabweans fear it could undermine progress in the fight against HIV, including the country’s achievement of the 95-95-95 targets. The U.S. Embassy stated that…

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Panic Grips Zimbabwe’s HIV Community as Trump Pauses Pepfar Funding

By Michael Gwarisa  A leaked internal memo obtained by the New York Times has revealed plans by the US State department to temporarily halt nearly all current foreign funding including that of Pepfar, a program that supplies most of the treatment for H.I.V. in Africa and developing countries worldwide. The action stems from President Donald Trump’s executive order on foreign aid, which directs all government divisions with foreign development assistance programs to stop disbursing funds to countries and organizations until they can be reviewed. Pepfar is estimated to have delivered…

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Zimbabwe Sex Workers Resort to Baby Socks Amid Condom Shortages In Communities

By Michael Gwarisa Sex workers in Zimbabwe claim they have resorted to using unconventional methods, including baby socks, as contraceptives due to condom shortages in some communities. While the government denies any national shortage, localized supply issues have been reported. These shortages are attributed to several factors, including delayed restocking by health facilities, hoarding by some sex workers, and healthcare workers allegedly misappropriating condoms. Communities such as Epworth, Mutare, Masvingo, Harare, and Seke have been particularly affected, with sex workers raising alarms about the dire situation. Speaking to HealthTimes, Precious…

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Zimbabwe Considers Cost Recovery Strategy For Family Planning Products

By Michael Gwarisa Amid growing donor fatigue and declining international support, Zimbabwe is pursuing a cost recovery framework for contraceptive commodities to ensure the sustainability and accessibility of reproductive health services. Spearheaded by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and other partners, this initiative aims to maintain progress in reproductive health despite diminishing external funding. Like many nations dependent on donor contributions, Zimbabwe is seeking strategies to sustain its family planning programs. The proposed cost recovery framework intends…

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Rising STI Cases Threaten to Reverse HIV Gains in Zimbabwe

By Michael Gwarisa The surge in new Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) is a clear indication that Zimbabweans may be engaging in unprotected sex, a trend that could reverse the HIV gains recorded so far, top health officials have warned. Between January and June 2024, Zimbabwe recorded the highest number of new STI cases, with some infections showing resistance to available antibiotics. This was confirmed by Mr. Sinokuthemba Xaba, the National Condom and Male Circumcision Coordinator in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), during a media training session for…

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Regional Progress Review Meeting for Scaled Up Peer-Led HIV Service Delivery Model Kicks Off In Zimbabwe

By Michael Gwarisa Thirteen African countries are in Zimbabwe for a three-day consultation meeting to deliberate on the progress and gaps in the scaled-up Zvandiri peer provider model toward ending AIDS in children and adolescents. Zvandiri is implementing the Zvandiri model in Zimbabwe in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC). The program is a comprehensive, peer-led program focused on children, adolescents, and young adults living with HIV aged 0-24. The peers, known as community adolescent treatment supporters (CATS), are people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged 18–24…

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Young Person With HIV Yearns To Be A Doctor

By Kuda Pembere recently in Bindura Renowned motivational speaker, Napoleon Hill once said, “Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.”  Though it may appear like Sisyphean task at the moment since he is yet to enroll for Advanced level studies, Hill’s quote aptly befits this 22-year old lad’s desire to become a medical doctor. Hillary Ngirazi from Bindura is a buoyant Community Adolescent Treatment Supporter (CATS) at Foothill’s Rural Clinic in his District. A dedicated…

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HIV Positive Zimbabwean Mothers Celebrate Life Of Healthy Choices and Healthy Children

By Takunda Mandura Having been diagnosed with HIV during her first pregnancy 15 years ago, Moud Chinembiri, now a mother of two children, has defied the odds and looked the beast in the eye. Now her child whom she had when she had a positive HIV diagnosis is attending high school and is HIV-negative, a living testimony of the intervention measures against HIV.   Her daughter has been her treatment buddy. “My daughter has become sort of my alarm to remind me of my medication schedule. I can say she…

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Why Africans and Europeans React To Medicines Differently: Zimbabwean Scientist Tests Effectiveness of Pharmacogenetics in African Populations

While some patients experience adverse drug reactions (ADRs) when taking medicines, others do not, and in some cases, others do not receive therapeutic benefits from treatment regardless of dosage. One reason for this inter-individual variation in response is differences in genes that code for proteins important in drug response. This has given rise to the field of Pharmacogenomics (PGx), which seeks to identify biomarkers that predict drug response and apply them in the provision of PGx-guided precision medicine. Following years of repeated Pharmacogenomics (PGx) research, which sought to identify biomarkers…

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Zimbabwe Needs To Revive Abstinence Message In HIV Programming

By Michael Gwarisa While Zimbabwe has made significant strides in addressing the HIV burden, there is a need for renewed messaging regarding HIV prevention to sustain the gains realised, health experts have said. Zimbabwe is among the few African countries that have attained the UNIADS 95-9-95 targets in adults. Over the past four years, there has been a decline in HIV prevalence from approximately 12% in 2020 to 11.58% in 2023. However, emerging new challenges such as depressed domestic and international funding for HIV prevention programs such as condoms, poor…

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