USAID Archives - HealthTimes

Condoms “Too Small” For Some Zimbabwean Men says MP

November 28, 2022November 28, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

MUFAKOSE Legislator, Honorable Susan Matsunga has asked government, the National AIDS Council (NAC) and all partners involved in the procurement and distribution of condoms to consider the size of sexual organs for some Zimbabwean men whenever they place orders from manufactures overseas. By Michael Gwarisa She made these remarks during a question and answer session at a High Level Advocacy Meeting to Discuss Bottlenecks Affecting the Condom Market in Zimbabwe that was held in Harare weeks ago. I am an MP in my constituency and I get feedback from the…

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US Government Injects US$54 Million Towards FACT’S DREAMS SMART Girls and Space for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Programs

November 10, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

The Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT-Zimbabwe) and its partners with funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched critical programs worth more than US$54 million to help fight HIV in Manicaland and Masvingo. By Michael Gwarisa The programs are Sustaining Prevention, Increasing Access to Care and Empowerment for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (SPACE for OVC) and the DREAMS- Support, Maintain, Advocate, reduce Risk and Transform (SMART) Girls. Representing the Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister, Mr Pastense Tarondwa, said…

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Over 6,000 Children and Young People Virally Suppressed through Zvandiri’s Game-changer Project

October 3, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

THE Game-Changer program that was being implemented by Zvandiri, through a five year US$20 Million grant support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through USAID and the Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) has resulted in the consistent uptake of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has attained 94% Viral Load (VL) suppression. By Michael Gwarisa Among some of the key achievements of the Fame Changer project include a Viral Load (VL) Coverage of 74% (6800/9191) and cumulatively, Zvandiri supported 412 health facilities on the Game Changer grant with over…

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Zim ready for long term injectable PrEP-MoHCC

July 10, 2022 Healthtimes

IN a bid to increase adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) said it welcomes obtaining studies to advance prevention therapy through long term injectable Pre-Exposure prophylaxes medications. By Staff Reporter This follows the approval of Apretude (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension) in 2021 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This will be taken in at-risk adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kilograms (77 pounds) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV. However, in Zimbabwe, current…

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Outcry As Major Funders Pull The Plug On Dapivirine Vaginal Ring Rollout

May 27, 2022May 27, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

A cloud of uncertainty has gripped the envisaged roll-out of the Vaginal ring or Dapivirine ring in Sub-Saharan Africa amidst indications that two of the major funding partners, the USAID and PEPFAR won’t be paying for the rollout of the ring but will now only support implementation studies. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes despite some progress that had been registered on the African continent where some governments had already approved use of the Dapivirine ring as a method of preventing new HIV infections in women. Zimbabwe and South Africa…

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Manicaland Child Marriage Survivors Find Solace In Economic Strengthening Programs

April 3, 2022April 4, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

DUE to economic hardships and prolonged schools closure at the back of recurrent COVID-19 induced lockdowns, Marvelous Tsambe* (16) from Chikore Village in Chimanimani entered into an early child marriage at the age 14 as an escape from the challenges back home. However, to her surprise, marriage did not bring the much anticipated economic escape. By Michael Gwarisa in Manicaland Just like most girls her age in her area, Marvelous fell for Majoni-Joni or those young men who illegally cross the border to work in South Africa. Whenever they return…

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Towards an AIDS Free Generation, Nyazura Celebrates PMTCT Milestone

March 31, 2022March 31, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

“GETTING initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) as well as registering for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) program early has been the best decision I have ever made,” said Tracey Makoni* (27) from Nyazura, in Manicaland province during an interview with HealthTimes on a media tour that was organised by the Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT). Tracey has five children and even though they were born after she had already tested positive for HIV, none amongst them has HIV, thanks to the PMTCT program being offered…

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#BREAKING: Worrisome New Leprosy Cases Recorded In Zimbabwe

January 21, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE recorded a worrisome sharp increase in new leprosy cases in 2020 with majority of cases having been recorded in Binga, Matabelenad North (Mat North), prompting government to activate and intensify Leprosy diagnosis and detection in other parts of the country that used to be Leprosy Hotspots. By Michael Gwarisa Traditional leprosy hotspots in Zimbabwe include Mat South (Gwanda and Bulimia), Mat North (Hwange and Binga), Mashonaland West (Makonde and Rafingora and farming areas around Rafingora), Zvimba (Hurungwe and Kariba). Masvingo (Chiredzi South in the Chikombedzi), Manicaland (Buhera and Chipinge),…

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Making dreams a reality: The DREAMS/Pathways Project

August 16, 2021August 16, 2021 Healthtimes

By Tariro Mhute and Vincent Mpamhadzi Looking back Virgina Tshuma (34) from Mambo – Gweru, never imaged that one day she would own a thriving poultry business. With the prevailing economic crisis, making ends meet was only a dream as she and her husband only managed to provide one meal per day for their three children, let alone pay their school fees. Her husband is an artisanal miner and without a steady income – life wasn’t always rosy. This posed great tension in their home, which sometimes led to verbal…

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Ensuring a better future for future generations: A journey towards curbing the HIV epidemic

May 23, 2021May 23, 2021 Healthtimes

IT is past midday and Portia* (22) arrives at a local Clinic in Filabusi, Matabeleland South, after a seven-kilometre walk from her homestead. Winter is fast approaching, and it is windy, she bends down to wipe the dust off her feet using a cloth and fixes her mask as she walks briskly towards the gate. From a distance, she sees the clinic is not as busy as she had anticipated. By Tariro Mhute and Osiah Chinemo She quickly washes her hands with the soapy water at the entrance and cheerfully…

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