WHO Pushes Expansion of PEN-Plus to 30 African Countries Ahead of Tanzania Conference
By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing to expand its PEN-Plus programme to 30 African countries beginning this year as governments, health experts and development partners gather momentum to tackle the continent’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The planned expansion comes ahead of the 3rd International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa (ICPPA
Read More
More Zimbabwean Men Dying Than Women, Vital Statistics Report Shows
Michael Gwarisa More Zimbabwean men are dying than women, with males accounting for the majority of registered deaths in both 2023 and 2024, according to findings contained in the Zimbabwe Vital Statistics Report 2023–2024. The report, released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), shows that men accounted for 53 percent of all registered deaths
Read More
Study Finds Ultra-Processed Foods Use Tobacco Industry Tactics to Drive Overconsumption
Michael Gwarisa As governments intensify efforts to address rising chronic disease rates, a new study published in The Milbank Quarterly argues that ultra-processed food manufacturers are using strategies long associated with the tobacco industry to drive overconsumption and dependency. The article examines how the design, marketing, and distribution of ultra-processed foods, commonly known as UPFs,
Read More16 percent Childhood Asthma Prevalence in Harare: ACACIA Study
By Kudakwashe Pembere With childhood asthma becoming increasingly prevalent in Africa’s major cities, a new study has found that Harare has a childhood asthma prevalence rate of 16%, the Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA) study findings stated. The study was an observational study aimed at gathering evidence on paediatric asthma in urban
Read MoreZim Youths Join Global Call for Urgent Action on NCDs and Mental Health
By Staff Reporter Zimbabwean youth leaders on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have joined their global peers in calling for immediate, bold action to tackle NCDs and mental health challenges, following the launch of the Kigali Youth Declaration at the Global NCD Alliance Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda. More than 60 youth representatives from over 40 countries,
Read MoreMinister Mutsvangwa Rallies Women to Regularly Screen for Lifestyle Diseases
By Michael Gwarisa Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, has applauded PSMAS Medical Aid Society for championing a week-long wellness outreach program, where over 200 members have been screened for various lifestyle diseases. The program kicked off on Tuesday, February 24, 2025, and will end on Friday, February 28,
Read MoreJunk and processed Foods Driving Non-Communicable Diseases in Zimbabwe’s Young People
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is experiencing a surge in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) linked to poor lifestyles and consumption of unhealthy diets, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has warned. Recent data from the annual Obesity Atlas shows that 2.9 million Zimbabwean children will be having high Body Mass Index (BMI) by year 2035
Read MoreNCDs In African Children Put On The Spotlight As Inaugural ICPPA Conference Kicks Off In Tanzania
By Michael Gwarisa in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania The First International Conference on the PEN-Plus Regional Strategy to Address Severe Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Africa (ICPPA), has commenced in Tanzania, amidst calls for increased investment towards prevention, research and care for childhood NCDs. The four-day confrence is running from April 23 to April 25 2024,
Read MoreZimbabwe Hosts Workshop on Integrating Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Mental Health Components in HIV Programming for Global Fund
Harare, Zimbabwe – Representatives from Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, whose funding request proposals are due for submission to the Global Fund, are meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe from 19-21 April 2023. The meeting gives these high impact countries a chance to integrate Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Mental Health components in their proposals. The workshop
Read More