MSF refuses to sign ViiV’s NDA for access to lifesaving HIV prevention drug

CORRESPONDENT NEW YORK/GENEVA, AUGUST 17, 2023—Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is asking today for the removal of last-minute terms that ViiV Healthcare has added to an agreement to procure the injectable HIV prevention drug long-acting cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for use in MSF projects. These unacceptable conditions include a confidentiality clause akin to a Non-Disclosure Agreement…

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Depression a silent killer

Writes Rumbidzai Mubirira A feeling of sadness and loss of interest in normal activities results in depression. Unnoticed, many people slipped into depression. Due to ignorance and lack of information, depression has been part of us for a long time, with people taking the symptoms as normal, resulting in a number of lives being lost….

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Seminar spotlights post-COVID-19 recovery efforts for Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe Parliament staff

The 21st Zimbabwe-Zambia-Botswana (ZIM-ZAM-BOTS) Senior Parliamentary Staff Seminar put a spotlight on the sterling work undertaken by the various Parliaments during the COVID-19 lockdown period across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and worldwide. In his keynote address to the participants, Advocate Jacob Francis N. Mudenda, the Speaker of  Parliament of Zimbabwe during that…

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IAS welcomes Jeanne Marrazzo as new Director of NIAID

IAS – the International AIDS Society – welcomes the appointment of Jeanne Marrazzo as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr Marrazzo, currently Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is recognized worldwide for her…

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UNICEF, WHO call for supportive workplaces for breastfeeding female workers

Writes Marlvin Ngiza The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) have challenged governments, civil society organisations, and the private sector across the globe to up the game in ensuring the establishment of a supportive breastfeeding environment for all working mothers in the quest to reach the global target of 70 percent…

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Queen of Peace receives CADAV philanthropic award

The Queen of Peace Institute for Community Mental Health Innovations and Rehabilitation was conferred with the glamorous CADAV National Philanthropic Award for its outstanding achievements in mental health and drug and substance abuse work in the Midlands Province. The awards were held at Jameson Hotel in Harare on the 29th of July 2023. The inaugural…

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Health needs heighten as Sudan conflict displaces millions of people

The conflict in Sudan that has forced 3.4 million people to flee for safety within the country and across its borders is rapidly intensifying health threats, with cases of infectious diseases and other afflictions reported among the displaced population who have sought refuge in hard-to-reach locations, with limited health services. Among those uprooted from their…

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World Population Report and World Population Day: Policies must prioritise wellbeing of people, environment

To achieve sustainable development as the world population has reached 8 billion people, policies must prioritize the well-being of both people and the environment. These were remarks today by His Excellency Edward Kallon, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator at the belated launch of the State of World Population Report and commemoration of World Population Day…

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Old Mutual Zimbabwe Donates A Neo-Natal Ventilator to Murambinda Hospital

Murambinda Hospital, located in the town of Murambinda, Buhera District in Manicaland Province is owned and administered by the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary under the endorsement and supervision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Harare. It is the only hospital in Buhera District, with a population of nearly 300,000 over an area…

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Drowning a major public health problem worldwide: UN

Writes Marlvin Ngiza The United Nations has cited drowning as a major public health problem which is claiming an estimate of 236 000 each year with emphasis placed on multi-sectoral action on installing barriers to access to water, strengthening education on swimming, improving flood risk management, and enforcing safe boating regulations among others. In a…

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WHO calls for massive health investments

Writes Marlvin Ngiza The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called upon nations to prioritize investing into the health sector for more equitable and prosperous societies and economies. This was said by WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, during a press briefing on global health issues. In his remarks, Ghebreyesus said that low-income countries were failing to rebound…

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My Food is African! Campaign promotes consumption of traditional Zimbabwean foodstuffs

Under the auspices of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Zimbabwe is undertaking a campaign in Zimbabwe to raise awareness and consciousness on the farming, and consumption of traditional Zimbabwean food under the banner of the My Food is African! Campaign. In Zimbabwe, the campaign is…

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Address violence against young women and girls, uphold child safeguarding: ZACH

The Zimbabwe Association of Church-Related Hospitals (ZACH) is making a passionate call for stakeholders to address all forms of violence against young women and girls that include physical, emotional, economic, and sexual violence as well as upholding child safeguarding with a view to reducing HIV Infections. This emerged at the ZACH annual media conference under…

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Acquittals of child abusers worry NGO

Writes Tafadzwa Muranganwa A local Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO) is worried about the high incidences of acquittals of child molesters and rapists. Speaking at a media conference in the capital on Friday, Zimbabwe Association of Church-Related  Hospitals (ZACH) programme coordinator, Dennis Dzikiti revealed that the rate of acquittals of child molesters and rapists is worrying even the…

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MSF: New medicine deal is a short-term solution for people with TB

J&J must end its patent monopoly on bedaquiline so generic versions of this lifesaving drug can be widely produced Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility announcement yesterday of a deal with US pharmaceutical corporation Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to provide access to affordable generic versions of lifesaving tuberculosis (TB) drug bedaquiline will only offer a…

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Anti-drug abuse ambassador reaches out to colleges and universities

Writes Chimeno Azriel Zimbabwe’s Anti-Drug Abuse Ambassador, Nyanduri Langton Chemere, who is the African advocate poet, and master of ceremonies has taken the fight against drug and substance abuse to colleges and universities as a way to reduce the vice. Nyanduri Langton Munyaradzi Chemhere, well known by his stage name Nyanduri LMC, is doing tours…

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ZIMSTAT calls for responsible population management

Writes Marlvin Ngiza The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) has underscored the significance of responsible population management in fruitful planning and efficient service delivery in the country. In an official statement to mark the 2023 World Population Day, ZIMSTAT Demographic Analysis Manager, Perfect Makumbe said Zimbabwe’s population has grown to 15 178 957, a development…

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King Kaka’s Song Promotes Positive Masculinity, Mental Health, and HIV Awareness

Renowned Kenyan artist King Kaka is thrilled to release his latest song, “BESHTE YANGU”, coinciding with the significant occasion of World Population Day. Developed in collaboration with UNESCO, the song delivers a powerful message on Positive Masculinity, Mental Health, and HIV Awareness. The highly anticipated launch took place at the University of Nairobi, bringing together…

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ZEC challenged to create a conducive electoral environment for PWDs

Writes Marlvin Ngiza The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has been encouraged to make the election environment conducive for people with disabilities by ensuring easy accessibility of polling stations and the availability of disaggregated data for full-fair participation of the group. In an interview with Spiked Online Media, Disability Reform Coalition Chairperson Masimba Kuchera said that there…

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WHO, multilateral development banks launch Climate Health Fund

Own Correspondent Paris, France – In a landmark development aimed at investing in and strengthening essential, climate, and crisis-resilient primary health care (PHC) services in the global south, three multilateral development banks have joined with WHO to launch a new Health Investment Platform. The Platform launched during the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact…

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Muduvuri Pan African Referral Hospital offering war veterans medical services

Writes Wellington Zimbowa The Muduvuri Pan African Referral Hospital is an epitome of pan Africanism and ubuntu worth being emulated across the whole African continent, Zanu PF war veterans secretary Douglas Mahiya has said. Owned by businessman and philanthropist Jimayi Muduvuri, the 1540-bed hospital was officially opened by President Emmerson Mnangagwa this April, initially giving…

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Different approaches for addressing drug and substance abuse needed

Writes Marlvin Ngiza Non-profit making organisations gathered to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with a courtesy call to come up with and apply new nondiscriminatory approaches which provide the desired solutions and can safely reconnect drug addicts to society. In his presentation, Project Kurarama Founder and Director, Daves Martin, said…

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UNICEF and SPAR Zimbabwe: Partnership spotlights programmes for children

UNICEF and SPAR Zimbabwe have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to roll out joint awareness and communication campaigns on child rights-related issues. Through this collaboration, UNICEF highlights how much the organization values engagement with the private sector to deliver results for the children of Zimbabwe. For SPAR Zimbabwe the agreement reaffirms the company’s social agenda…

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World Female Ranger Week on June 23-30 2023 amplifies the voices of female wildlife rangers on a global stage

Writeup by How Many Elephants Real Women, Real Stories, Real Impact. This pioneering global awareness week, spearheaded by international NGO, How Many Elephants (HME) celebrates and supports female wildlife rangers – They’re bold, changing the game and paving the way for women to stand alongside men at the forefront of conservation, but they need allies. Building…

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Calls to shun marginalisation of people with disabilities gather momentum

Writes Marlvin Ngiza A Gweru-based organisation, Let’s Make a Difference Disability Zimbabwe has called upon families, communities, and the nation at large to introduce more encompassing and participatory events for people with disabilities as a way of helping them explore the world. Speaking at a family fun day held at Jairosi Jiri Narane Centre, Let’s…

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UNESCO’s O3 Programme provides sexuality education, violence prevention for young people

UNESCO in collaboration with ministries of education and health from 33 Sub- Saharan African countries, is launching the second phase of the landmark Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) Programme. As the largest school-based programme on education for health and well-being in Africa, the ambitious O3 Programme plans to equip 44 million adolescents and…

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Psychological impact of social media on teenagers

Writes Washington Nyanjowa Humans need to socialize, and in today’s technologically advanced age, social media is employed as a tool for this purpose. Our mental health and happiness are greatly impacted by our social interactions. Being socially linked to people can improve your life by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, boosting self-esteem, bringing comfort and…

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Insurance: AFC Cares extends helping hand to Kerreboom Primary School

Students from Kerreboom Primary School who were recently injured when they were involved in a road accident got a shot in the arm from AFC Insurance. As part of its social responsibility initiative, AFC Holdings joined hands with the Government in extending help to students from Kerreboom Primary School who got injured in a fatal…

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Food safety risks in developing countries’ informal sector tackled in new report

The report was produced by Spencer Henson, Steven Jaffee, and Shuo Wang  More sticks, fewer carrots: New directions for tackling food safety risks Key messages Despite ongoing structural changes, small-scale processors, grocers, market vendors, and food service operators dominate the food systems of most low- and lower-middle-income countries; Unsafe food is widespread in informal food…

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