Argentina withdraws from World Health Organization
Michael Gwarisa Argentina has announced its official withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) citing irreparable differences. Through his official X account, Argentina’s presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni said they had significant disagreements with WHO regarding management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the same reason given by US President Donald Trump for exiting the global health body.
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Single-Dose Pill Brings Sleeping Sickness Closer to Elimination in Africa
Michael Gwarisa A breakthrough in the fight against sleeping sickness could transform care for thousands of patients in Africa. The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has given a positive opinion to Acoziborole Winthrop, a single-dose, three-tablet treatment for the most common form of the disease, gambiense sleeping sickness. Developed
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First Batch of Sugar Tax-Funded Cancer Machines Arrives in Zimbabwe
Kuda Pembere The first batch of cancer treatment equipment acquired under the Sugar Tax programme is now in Zimbabwe, with two machines earmarked for Parirenyatwa and Mpilo hospitals, a top Government official said on Friday. These are low energycancer machines which are currently housed at the National Pharmaceutical Company of Zimbabwe (NatPharm) warehouse, pending completion
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Advanced Blood Screening Technology Commissioned at NBSZ
Kuda Pembere The Government of Zimbabwe has commissioned a Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) machine at the National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ), a development expected to significantly reduce turnaround times and enhance the safety of blood transfusions. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglass Mombeshora described the installation as not only
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WHO Member States Advance Key Annex to Pandemic Agreement
Michael Gwarisa After a week of intensive discussions on the draft annex for Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS), countries around the world have outlined a clear roadmap to implement the pandemic agreement effectively. The PABS framework is an essential part of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. It is designed to ensure fair and timely access
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ISGlobal Welcomes WHO’s Proposal To Classify Liver and Blood Diseases As NCDs
Michael Gwarisa Following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) proposal to extend the definition of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to include liver and blood diseases, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has expressed its support for the decision. The diseases proposed for inclusion in the NCD definition include steatotic liver diseases, haemophilia, and other inherited bleeding
Read MoreHealth Experts Warn WHO Against Full Tobacco Ban and Call for Balanced Regulation
By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma For decades, global public health experts have agreed on one thing: banning a dangerous substance rarely eliminates its use. It often pushes the trade underground, where governments lose visibility and control. Regulation, however, gives policymakers room to monitor, manage and gradually reduce harm. This tension now sits at the center of
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Health Experts Warn WHO Against Full Tobacco Ban and Call for Balanced Regulation
By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma For decades, global public health experts have agreed on one thing: banning a dangerous substance rarely eliminates its use. It often pushes the trade underground, where governments lose visibility and control. Regulation, however, gives policymakers room to monitor, manage and gradually reduce harm. This tension now sits at the center of a
Read More#BREAKING: Ethiopia Declares Marburg Virus Outbreak
By Michael Gwarisa Health officials who were initially skeptical about the cause of a suspected haemorrhagic fever reported in Jinka, Southern Region of Ethiopia, have now confirmed that the disease is the Marburg virus. Marburg virus disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, is a severe and often fatal illness in humans. The average
Read MoreMinister Mombeshora Commends TB Progress, Calls for Innovation and Local Funding
By Kuda Pembere With several donors pulling out of tuberculosis (TB) programs, Zimbabwe’s dwindling funding base has renewed calls for sustainable domestic financing to keep the disease under control. Officiating the three-day National TB Conference in Harare, Minister of Health and Child Care Dr. Douglas Mombeshora commended healthcare workers for their efforts in helping Zimbabwe
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