Tag: STIs

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

Michael Gwarisa

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

Michael Gwarisa

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

Michael Gwarisa

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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Zimbabwe Needs To Revive Abstinence Message In HIV Programming

Michael Gwarisa

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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STIs Time-Bomb for Zimbabwe: Majority of STI carriers are asymptomatic and undiagnosed

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The burden of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs) in Zimbabwe has been increasing over the past few years amidst indications that the majority of infected persons do not show any symptoms and could be spreading the STIs unknowingly. According to official data from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), the number of STIs recorded annually has been on the increase since 2018, and majority of cases are being recorded in women. The National Coordinator STI Prevention and Condom Distribution in the Ministry of Health and Child…

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Kutabila Virtual Platform Impact on Health Service Provision in Bindura

Healthtimes

By Pardon Gonorashe, Mashonal and Central Provincial Coordinator Saimona, Bindura STIs are on the rise in Bindura. In January 2023 a rapid assessment conducted by the Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) Mashonaland Central Province in partnership with the Ministry of health and Child Care Environmental Health Team (EHT) found 23 men aged between 17 to 45 had contracted sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from one person. The demographic (students, artisanal miners, KPs etc) characteristics in Bindura has caused a general fear of HIV and STIs among the…

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ICASA Preparations In Final Lap

Michael Gwarisa

Stakeholders to the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), gathered in Harare, Zimbabwe for the last planning meeting, also dubbed the Marathon meeting to discuss and plan around the state of preparedness ahead of the conference to be held in Harare. By Michael Gwarisa The ICASA conference will be held from December 4 to 9, 2023, at the Rainbow Towers Hotel and is set to attract not less than 8,000 delegates from across the continent and beyond. Speaking during the meeting’s official ceremony, Minister of Health and…

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SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF: How AWET Health interventions have reduced home deliveries Among Apostolic Women and Girls in Shurugwi

Michael Gwarisa

Caroline Ngosha (23), from Shurugwi is expecting her third child in a few months’ time. In both her previous pregnancies, she delivered her children at home in line with the dictates of her religion, a white garment apostolic sect. Some apostolic sects in Zimbabwe do not allow their followers to use family planning or contraception methods. Neither do they sanction female followers to register with the Anti Natal Clinic (ANC), later on deliver in a health institution. By Michael Gwarisa in Shurugwi She remembers vividly how life threatening giving birth…

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Zimbabwe Health Journalists Trained On Sensible Infertility Reporting

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE’S First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa in partnership with the Merck Foundation and the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), hosted a half day training to sensitise Zimbabwean Journalists on issues around fertility and infertility. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes in the midst of a growing burden in fertility related complications in both women and men in Sub-Saharan Africa largely driven by lifestyle related health conditions and Non Communicable diseases (NCDs). Giving her remarks during the training, Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Rasha Kelej said there were numerous risk…

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Zimbabwe To Host 23rd International Congress On STIs

Michael Gwarisa

THE 23rd edition of the International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI), will be held in Zimbabwe  from September 4 t0 September 7, 2022, in the resort town of Victoria Falls.   By Michael Gwarisa The Congress will run under the theme, “Confronting Inequities in STI Prevention, Diagnostics and Care,” and will be graced by  various speakers from across the world. In an interview with HealthTimes, Charlene Thlabane Project Manager for the 23rd IUSTI congress said they expect not less than 300 attendees at the 23r IUSTI congress. We expect that…

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