Improve educational access for health professionals, people with diabetes: Setfree Mafukidze

Human rights campaigner, Setfree Mafukidze has written a letter to Vice President, Retired General Dr. Constantine Chiwenga urging him to take steps to improve access to the best possible diabetes education for health professionals and people living with diabetes in Zimbabwe.   Below, Spiked Online Media reproduces the letter to VP Chiwenga: Dear Vice President…

Read More

Unsung community heroines at the centre of COVID-19 response

Community-based organisations and individuals living among the public played a critical role in ameliorating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this installment, Spiked Online Media casts a spotlight on these champions. Kumbirai Mahaso, an activist in the HIV sector She carries the Batanai HIV Aids Support Organisation, (BHASO)  legacy. Born in Masvingo, Mahaso is…

Read More

Celebrating COVID-19 response’s media unsung heroines in Zimbabwe

By Catherine Murombedzi The Zimbabwe Covid-19 response would be incomplete without mentioning the media, an integral part of the correct communication channel and the bridge for the information divide. With myths and misconceptions rife, set to derail the Covid-19 response, the media rose to the occasion by dispelling infodemics. Misinformation became a pandemic that required…

Read More

Campaigners call on Zimbabwe to adopt landmark disability law

Zimbabwe is on the cusp of becoming the first Southern African country to ratify the African Disability Protocol (ADP) but action is needed to push it across the finish line. This is why today (October 29), Sightsavers’ Equal World Campaign, in partnership with the African Union and the African Disability Forum, is urging governments and…

Read More

Celebrating COVID-19 response unsung heroines: Part 2

By Catherine Murombedzi The COVID-19 response was quite immense and as we continue to celebrate unsung heroines, we spotlight healthcare workers whose contributions made a positive impact. Dr Harunavamwe N Chifamba, Specialist Anaesthetist Intensivist and Clinical Epidemiologist “For some must watch, while others must sleep,” that’s Dr Harunavamwe’s space in Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. She…

Read More

Mobile tax should fund SRHR: Parliamentary Caucus

By Nhau Mangirazi The Women Parliament Caucus (ZWPC) has recommended the mobilization of resources towards the sexual and reproductive health rights affecting women and girls in most marginalized communities. ZWPC chairperson, Hon Goodluck Kwaramba made the presentation last week during a prebudget seminar saying the proportion of the 5 percent mobile airtime levy, introduced in…

Read More

Women’s Parliamentary Caucus urges Mthuli Ncube to help on water issues

By Nhau Mangirazi The Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus has urged finance minister Prof Mthuli Ncube to set aside money to improve water and sanitation in mostly rural and marginalized communities. The parliament caucus chairperson, Hon Goodluck Kwaramba made the presentation last week calling on Prof Ncube to consider setting aside funds that will help improve…

Read More

Ending AIDS by 2030: ICASA to focus on other epidemics, morbidities

Dr. David Parirenyatwa, the President of the Society for AIDS in Africa has said that the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) 2023 will focus on other epidemics and morbidities like cancer TB, malaria, and other emerging pandemics including COVID-19. He made the remarks at a Harare hotel today during the official…

Read More

Deal with GBV perpetrators: Girls Collective

BY Nhau Mangirazi Girls Collective – a civil society coalition fighting for girls’ rights and justice has called on the government to deal with perpetrators of violence against girls. In a statement following the death of Nokutenda Hwaramba (15) who died while giving birth at a shrine in Bikita, the umbrella body says suspects must…

Read More

Regional symposium tackles SRHR, teen pregnancy and HIV

A regional symposium underway in Zimbabwe’s resort city of Victoria Falls has seen stakeholders gathering to chart the way forward in ending teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, and HIV infections in East and Southern Africa. While significant progress has been witnessed in strengthening SRHR outcomes in the region, girls and young women and key populations remain…

Read More

Journalist Catherine Murombedzi pens a poem about gender-based violence

With the UN Women’s statistics on gender-based violence showing that nearly a third of women have suffered abuse in their lifetime, with cases rising during crises such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Zimbabwean journalist Catherine Murombedzi has come up with a poem denouncing the vice. The poem also comes after Musasa Project, a leading organisation…

Read More

High-level commitment to addressing disability: President Mnangagwa donates wheelchairs

By Chimeno Azriel In a demonstration of high-level commitment to addressing disability, President Emmerson Mnangagwa handed over 130 wheelchairs to needy persons in Marondera. The wheelchairs were handed over to the beneficiaries by Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Hon Apolonia Munzverengi who presided over the donation on behalf of the…

Read More

Minister Mliswa commissions ambulances for Mashonaland West Province

By Elvis Dumba Chinhoyi – Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Mary Mliswa-Chikoka yesterday commissioned and handed over four ambulances to various medical centres in the province. Handing over the utility vehicles at her offices, Hon Mliswa said the government has come up with tailor-made programs that ensure that no…

Read More

Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) celebrates 25th Anniversary

By Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe Harare – This year marks MCAZ’s 25th Anniversary as an autonomous medicines regulatory body. Since the Authority’s establishment in August 1997, the environment in which MCAZ operates has undergone fundamental scientific, technological, legislative, and social changes. The mandate though has remained: protecting the right to quality medicines and medical…

Read More

UNAIDS develops HIV information toolkit for inter-faith network institutions

By Nevison Mpofu   Harare – UNIAIDS engaged a total of 50 men and women for a training kit for home use under the training of trainers program taking place in Harare. The training will enhance the capacity of inter-faith network institutions and leaders.   The purpose of the training goes deep into inculcating high…

Read More

Merck Foundation, African First Ladies Mark “World Heart Day 2022” with substantial donations

Merck Foundation Together with African First Ladies Mark “World Heart Day 2022” by Providing 720 Scholarships of Preventative Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Endocrinology for Doctors from 45 Countries Merck Foundation (www.Merck–Foundation.com) in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health provided more than 720 scholarships for one-year Post-Graduate Diploma and two-year Master’s Degree in Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Diabetes and…

Read More

African political leadership, partnership on ending AIDS and pandemics welcome

By Baboloki Semele During the high-level week of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, leading African Ministers of Health joined UNAIDS, PEPFAR, global health institutions, and partners in New York in rallying to sustain their commitments to end AIDS and accelerate their response to current and future pandemics. The high-level side event…

Read More

Cimas attains ISO information security management certification

Cimas Health Group has attained ZWS ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification. This means that it has a world-class Information Security Management System in place that ensures the security and confidentiality of clients’ information.   Standards Association of ZimThe ZWS ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Information Security Management System certificate was officially handed over to Cimas Health Group Chief Executive Officer…

Read More

Junior Parliamentarians propose measures to revive the tourism sector

Junior Parliamentarians today proposed a raft of innovative measures to enhance the contribution of tourism to the economy as the sector is emerging from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. They made the contributions today during the commemoration of World Tourism Month celebrations at the inaugural Debate Session by Junior Parliamentarians organised by the…

Read More

David Mascott Country School a centre of excellence for sports and wellness

Norton-based David Mascott Country School is becoming a centre of excellence for sports and wellness in Zimbabwe as evidenced by the multiplicity of stakeholders who thronged the elite educational institution on Saturday 24 September 2022. Addressing participants during the highly-subscribed event yesterday, Hon Temba Mliswa, the Member of the National Assembly for Norton, said sports…

Read More

University of Nairobi honours Global Center on Adaptation CEO, Professor Patrick Verkooijen

Global Center on Adaptation CEO, Professor Patrick Verkooijen, was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Nairobi at the institution’s 2022 Commencement Ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya.   Professor Verkooijen was awarded a Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, of the University of Nairobi in recognition of his long career and achievements in championing…

Read More

UNAIDS applauds donor funding to the Global Fund

High-income countries, private sector partners, and developing countries, many with high HIV burdens, have all stepped up to fund the Global Fund UNAIDS congratulates donors for increasing their contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global Fund). Donors pledged US$ 14.25 billion to support efforts to end the three pandemics with…

Read More

Government hails impactful SUCCEED Zimbabwe project

SUCCEED Africa’s Zimbabwe project is integral to the realisation of the recently launched National Disability Policy, Dr Edmos Mtetwa, who is the Chief Director of Social Development and Disability Affairs in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare has said. During a meeting between the Zimbabwe Local Advisory Group (LAG) members and SUCCEED…

Read More

AU year of Nutrition: Calls for upscaled efforts towards food security

By Baboloki Semele Calls have been made for increased effort in upscaling food and nutrition security by African Union member states in order to realise development outcomes as espoused in the AU’s Agenda 2063. Although the African region seems to have witnessed a decrease in malnutrition of its population by about 13.5%, from 35.5% in…

Read More

NetOne, Hope For the Future Trust positively impacting people with albinism

NetOne has once again joined forces with Hope For the Future Trust in an intervention that dovetails with its corporate social responsibility in an initiative meant to positively impact the lives of people with albinism. Netone Regional Manager for Manicaland and Mashonaland East, Mr Farai Matope, on behalf of Group Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Raphael…

Read More

13th AUC Task Force on Food and Nutrition Development convenes in Botswana

By Baboloki Semele The 13th African Union Commission (AUC) Task Force on Food and Nutrition Development (ATFFND) meeting will be held on 7-9 September 2022 in Gaborone, Botswana, culminating with a High-level National Launch of the theme of the Year on Nutrition, as a cascade of the launch performed during the 35th Ordinary Session of…

Read More

Health disaster looms over perennial sewer challenges in Banket

By Elvis Dumba Banket – Residents of the small farming town of Banket are experiencing perennial sewer pipe bursts resulting in raw effluent flowing in residential suburbs, thereby threatening a disease outbreak. Inhabitants of Kuwadzana suburb interviewed expressed fears they could contract deadly diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid if the situation is not…

Read More

NetOne’s OneHealth platform has potential to ensure mining industry health and safety

With the country recording an increase in mining-related fatalities, NetOne’s e-Health platform – OneHealth, a digital, mobile phone-based health solution that can be accessed via USSD to provide health tips, health-based loans, and insurance at a very low cost, is a possible game-changer and a panacea to the challenge. NetOne is one of the leading…

Read More