ZICHIRe-BC in COVID-19 Vaccines Sensitisation Drive

The Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research Behavioural Change (ZICHIRe-BC) Programme is driving a COVID-19 sensitisation drive in Harare and Mashonaland East Provinces. Speaking to this publication on 10 March 2021 when Zimbabwe had 36,341 confirmed coronaviruses (COVID-19) cases and 1,489 deaths, Mr Walter Chikanya, the Programme Director of ZiCHIRe-BC said as an essential service provider…

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UNICEF Applauded for Strengthening Zimbabwe’s Health and Education Sectors

By Joyce Mukucha The Government of Zimbabwe has commended the unwavering support shown by the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for working and supporting the nation’s education and health sectors. In an interview with journalists in Harare on Thursday, Vice President General Constantino Chiwenga who also serves as the Minister of Health and Child…

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Cyclone Idai: China invests $1,24 million in women’s health in affected districts

The Government of China and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today handed over reproductive health medical equipment and medicines as part of the US$1,24 million support to the Government of Zimbabwe‘s Health Assistance Project for Women and Girls in Zimbabwe Affected by Tropical Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts. The objective of the…

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AWiM Salutes Female Journalists for Remaining Vigilant During Covid-19

By Joyce Mukucha As it joined the global community in celebrating International Women’s Day on Monday, African Women in Media (AWiM) honoured and applauded female journalists who have held the fort throughout the Covid-19 pandemic as they continue to show love and dedication for journalism. The Chief Executive Officer for AWiM Yemisi Akinbobola said despite…

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Scope for pushing knowledge boundaries by domesticating indigenous foods

By Charles Dhewa Good rainfall seasons across Africa are not only characterized by an abundance of domesticated crops and livestock but an increase in the availability of non-domesticated natural food resources. Such resources range from edible insects to indigenous fruits, tubers, vegetables, mushrooms, and small indigenous animals. While some are prevalent in high rainfall regions,…

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Zimbabwe COVID-19 Health Booths Project Ameliorating The Pandemic

Compiled by Dr. Martin Chitsama – Project National Coordinator ZimCovid-19 Health Booths Project INTRODUCTION On January 30, 2020, the Director-General of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Up to mid-February 2021, more than 100 million people have been infected by…

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We should be each other’s bridge for success: Women

By Joyce Mukucha Women in Zimbabwe have joined the rest of the world in commemorating International Women’s Day stressing the need to remain determined, focused, and optimistic as well as supporting and empowering each other during these unprecedented times caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, the theme for International Women’s Day “Women in leadership:…

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About 2,5 billion People to Experience Hearing Challenge by 2050: WHO

By Joyce Mukucha As the world commemorated the World Hearing Day on March 3 that ran under the theme “Hearing Care for ALL! Screen, Rehabilitate, Communicate”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its first World Report on Hearing, released Tuesday warned that approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide or 1 in 4 people will be living…

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IOM, Embassy of Sweden strengthen COVID-19 IPC, WASH in Beitbridge

BEITBRIDGE– With the Embassy of Sweden’s support, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) supported the Municipality of Beitbridge and the Department of Immigration at Beitbridge border post in strengthening COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and temporary water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. The Municipality was provided with 150 street bins and assisted with the…

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Continue wearing face masks after getting COVID-19 vaccines: Prof Elopy Sibanda

By Desire Tshuma Professor Elopy Sibanda who owns GAMMA medical laboratories has urged people to continue observing World Health Organisation (WHO) regulations including the wearing of face masks even after getting the vaccine. Zimbabwe received the first batch of 200 000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from China a fortnight ago. Other vaccines are expected to arrive…

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Restaurants business on the brink of collapse as operations remain banned

Zimbabwe’s restaurant trade is teetering on the brink of collapse, following a year of closure or partial operation, and with no end to the crisis in sight. Restaurant Operators’ Association of Zimbabwe president Bongai Zamchiya says the non-operational or partial-operational status of restaurants since March last year has created a massive problem for the trade…

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UN Women Calls for a Proportionate and Adequate Representation of Women in Covid-19 Spaces

By Joyce Mukucha As International Women’s Day (IWD) is just around the corner at a time when the world is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, UN Women has highlighted the need to uphold women’s rights and fully leverage the potential of their leadership to the disease preparedness and response. This comes after the realisation that…

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ZIMCODD condemns corrupt use of COVID-19 Resources

By ZIMCODD “Without strong watchdog institutions, impunity becomes the very foundation upon which systems of corruption are built. If impunity is not demolished, all efforts to bring an end to corruption are in vain”- Rigoberta Menchu. Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) welcomes the arrest of the Principal Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control,…

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CZR hails President Mnangagwa on lockdown review

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has welcomed the ‘balanced review’ of the lockdown by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa which focuses on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic while opening up the economy. Mr. Denford Mutashu, the CZR president said the measured lockdown extension has eased business operations and his organisation is of the strong view…

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Covid-19 Leaves Women On the Periphery of Economic Activities

By Joyce Mukucha Zimbabwean women running their own projects and businesses have bemoaned the negative impacts which have been brought by the COVID-19 and the resultant lockdowns. Voicing their concerns, business women said just like any other economic and social sectors, the pandemic has fuelled the already existing challenges they were facing due to economic…

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Ebola: Red Cross intensifies response amidst fears of regional spread

Red Cross volunteers and staff Guinea, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone have stepped up surveillance and community sensitization efforts. To support these live saving activities, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has issued an international emergency appeal for 8.5 million Swiss francs. Mohammed Mukhier, the IFRC’s Regional Director…

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Blame game won’t win the fight against drug abuse: Linda Masarira

By Joyce Mukucha The Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) president, Linda Masarira has urged members of different communities to desist from laying the blame on children and youngsters but instead encouraged them to join hands in the fight against the vice. This comes after Masarira was asked about how she has managed her own…

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New Maisha Health product enables patients to consult doctors remotely

Maisha Health, Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe’s health insurance unit, has rolled out a digital platform that allows patients to consult doctors remotely. The Maisha Telemedicine platform will collect a patient’s vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature, and connect the patient with a doctor through a video call. Cassava Smartech said the listed technology giant…

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Nenyasha Trust Extending Motherly Love to Psychiatric Patients

By Joyce Mukucha Motivated by the desire to change and enhance the lives of psychiatric people and their families to meet their basic needs and medication across the world, Nenyasha Trust, a non-profit making organisation, is extending support through donations to mentally challenged people. This comes after realising difficulties being faced by psychiatric patients’ families…

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Informal cross-border traders need a tailored Covid-19 recovery package

The government’s promise to continue engaging cross-border traders will come as a pleasant gesture to informal business operators, particularly women. The recommitment comes at the time researchers have found out that Covid-19 restrictions, especially border closures in the East African region, have had widespread consequences on cross-border traders.   In the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, East African…

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G7 leaders commit US$ 4.3 billion to finance global equitable access to tests, treatments, and vaccines in 2021

The ACT Accelerator partnership welcomes over US$ 4.3 billion of new investments from the USA, Germany, the European Commission, Japan, and Canada to fund the development and equitable rollout of the tests, treatments and vaccines needed to end the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s commitments bring the amount committed to date to US$ 10.3 billion, leaving a funding…

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How Could Digital Tools Help Fight Against Anti-Vaccination?

Bertalan Meskó, MD, PhD Anti-vaccination (anti-vax) movements lure increasingly more people into skipping potentially life-saving immunisation against infectious diseases, such as measles, mumps, or rubella; highly impairing herd immunity for entire communities. You might have encountered such sentiments on social media, but people living a century before also experienced similar resistance to vaccines during the…

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Zimbabweans endure cruel treatment in the diaspora, establish protective movement

Zimbabweans are working on establishing a movement to defend abused countrymen working and residing in the diaspora. The proposal to set up a movement is informed by the need to protect Zimbabweans against their ill-treatment as foreigners in the diaspora. This came out clear on the Africa 54 hot seat platform where one of the…

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ZIMBABWE: Health care system exhausted by most recent COVID-19 wave

By Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Following a recent spike in COVID-19-related cases and deaths, Zimbabwe’s already struggling health system is buckling under the pressure. In several facilities, health workers are operating without adequate PPE, medication, equipment and oxygen and, with an existing and ongoing shortage of nurses and doctors, most health centres are unable to operate at…

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Include journalists in the COVID-19 priority vaccination rollout: MISA Zimbabwe

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe has called upon the government to prioritise and also include journalists among the first priority groups listed for the COVID-19 vaccination rollout programme. The media representative body said its request is informed by the fact that the media was declared an essential service in terms of Zimbabwe’s…

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University students a key population in fighting stigma against HIV and AIDS

By Joyce Mukucha Despite decades of scientific advances in prevention and treatment, as well as widespread awareness-raising efforts, irrational fears of HIV infection and negative attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLWHIV) continue to be rampant and are a persistent barrier to addressing the epidemic. Realising how bad and different PLWHIV are treated be it…

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FAO Commemorates World Pulses Day

By Joyce Mukucha The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Liaison Office with the United Nations (UN) in New York in collaboration with Emerging Ag Inc, governments, non-governmental organizations, and all other relevant stakeholders yesterday held a virtual event to celebrate World Pulses Day. The event which was aimed at raising awareness and recognising the contribution…

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UNITLIFE and Ecobank Foundation works to prevent chronic malnutrition amongst children in Africa

UNITLIFE, the United Nations initiative dedicated to fighting chronic malnutrition through innovation, and the Ecobank Group’s Foundation (www.EcobankFoundation.org) – the pan-African banking group with operations in 33 countries across the continent-announce the launch of the “Make the Connection” campaign, which aims to raise awareness and funds to prevent chronic malnutrition in Africa. 144 million children…

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COVID-19 relief: Sekuru Banda opens businesses for Kapfupi and other musicians

Famous traditional healer, Sekuru Banda has come to the rescue of comedian Kapfupi and other musicians struggling under the COVID-19-induced hardships by opening grocery shops and starting income generating projects for them. The initiative is part of Sekuru Banda’s extension of an olive branch to musicians who have gone for more than a year without…

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Retailers Declare Full-Fledged War Against Covid-19

By Staff Reporter Following increased daily Covid-19 infections and the Government’s recent invitation for business entities and the private sector to venture in and assist in the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has called upon businesses to commit and save the nation through donations. In a statement released on Monday,…

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ZimRights application to compel the government to provide national deployment vaccination plan not urgent: High Court

By Kumbirai Mafunda The High Court has removed an urgent chamber application filed by Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) seeking to compel the government to provide a National Deployment Vaccination Plan and present a budget for the purchase of coronavirus vaccines before Parliament after ruling that it is not an urgent matter. Through its lawyer…

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How health aid can reach the world’s poorest people

Cordelia Kenney, Kaci Kennedy McDade, Wenhui Mao, and Osondu Ogbuoji Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could reverse progress in global poverty reduction and in global health improvements among poor people. The links between health and poverty are clear: Poverty limits people’s ability to access medical care, safe living environments, and sufficient nutrition, the absence of which can have disastrous consequences. Conversely, good…

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High Court Orders Government to Disseminate Comprehensive Information on Covid-19

By Veritas High Court judge Justice Mary Dube has ordered the Ministers of Health and Child Care and of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services to disseminate widely “comprehensive and adequate information” on both private and public testing, isolation and treatment of COVID-19. This follows an urgent application filed by the trustees of MISA Zimbabwe, represented…

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The UN working to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM)

By Joyce Mukucha On 6 February 2021, the United Nations (UN) through its agencies, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The UN has noted with concern that many countries are experiencing…

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COVID-19 vaccines: President Mnangagwa pays tribute to China

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has applauded China for taking a leading role in contributing to Zimbabwe’s national vaccine deployment strategy. Addressing the nation on Thursday, President Mnangagwa praised China for its consistent humane policy of treating Covid-19 vaccines as global public goods. “Allow me to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt and sincere gratitude to…

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