Renewed partnership boosts skills needed to drive drug discovery, development in Africa

Nhau Mangirazi in Lusaka, Zambia  Africa has the potential to boost skills for drug development that fight diseases that are curable to reduce economic impact.  This follows a deal between the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and the H3D Foundation that announced a new three-year phase of their partnership, aiming to boost…

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Shamwari Yemwanasikana urges action to end gender-based violence

Shamwari Yemwanasikana urged stakeholders to act urgently to address the vice as it joins the world in commemorating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, under this year’s theme “UNITE! Invest to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls”. Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most pervasive and persistent human rights violations in the…

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Nigerian researchers in AI breakthrough detecting TB

Catherine Murombedzi, a health science journalist, takes readers through a glimpse into future TB detection using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The recently ended Union World Lung Health Conference in France, (15 to 18 November 2023) brought together researchers, medical doctors, communities, and stakeholders to brainstorm on lung diseases. Challenges, success stories, and strategies were shared with…

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Stakeholders working on ensuring adolescents’ health and wellbeing

The Zimbabwe Adolescents’ Health and Wellbeing Symposium has brought together stakeholders to discuss and strategize ways to ensure the health and well-being of young people. In welcome remarks today on behalf of the Minister of Health and Child Care, Hon Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, Dr. Wencelous Nyamayaro, a Chief Director in the same Ministry, said with…

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Investing in Africa’s Health: Paving the Way for Universal Health Coverage

Writes Baboloki Semele, Lusaka, Zambia In preparation for the upcoming Kigali Health Conference scheduled for February next year in Rwanda, a collaborative effort involving UNAIDS, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA) (NEPAD), healthcare experts, and civil society recently unfolded in Lusaka, Zambia. The focus of the two-day conference was to deliberate on strategies for increasing…

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NetOne holds Fundraising Dinner for Albinism Network Zimbabwe

Mobile telephony giant, NetOne, demonstrated its commitment to ameliorating challenges faced by people with albinism by holding a Fundraising Dinner for The Albinism Network Zimbabwe yesterday at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Harare. Mr. Blessing Chikuhwa,  the Chairman of Albinism Network Zimbabwe said his organisation is a charitable organization whose sole mission is to improve…

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NetOne takes albinism awareness to Midlands as CSR campaign goes countrywide

Own Correspondent Zimbabwe’s telecommunications giant, NetOne, continues with its Albinism Campaign. The campaign is a country-wide tour to spread awareness of the rare condition that some of our colleagues live with daily. NetOne has placed itself as a national leader when it comes to issues to do with Corporate Social Responsibility and community-based projects. The…

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World Toilet Day: ZLHR urges fixing of sanitation crisis

Writes Kumbirai Mafunda   ON WORLD Toilet Day, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) implored local and central government and other stakeholders to accelerate change in tackling the worsening sanitation crisis in the country and arrest the outbreak of cholera and other waterborne diseases. World Toilet Day, which has been an annual United Nations (UN)…

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AMR poses threat to public health and sustainable food production

Anti-microbial resistance (AMR) poses an increasingly serious threat to public health and sustainable food production, necessitating an effective response involving all sectors of government and society, stakeholders attending the World AMR Awareness Week in Zimbabwe have said. Addressing delegates during the official opening ceremony of the 5th Continental World Antimicrobial Awareness Week for Africa in…

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Parliament committed to the Elimination of Violence against Women

Zimbabwe is committed to the elimination of violence against women as demonstrated by the willingness of Parliament to join the international community in commemorating 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence running from November 25, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10 which itself is a Human…

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Netone-sponsored fitness marathon promotes environmental protection, tourism development

Leading mobile telephony company, NetOne, has demonstrated its deep commitment to sustainability, and responsible governance by sponsoring a fitness marathon. Addressing journalists in the capital city yesterday, Mr. Learnmore Musunda, the company’s General Manager, speaking on behalf of Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Raphael Mushanawani, said NetOne recognizes the vital importance of achieving the goals…

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Zimbabwe Hosts the World AMR Awareness Week 2023, 18-24th November 2023

The Quadripartite partners consisting of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), in partnership with African Union agencies, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and African Union Inter-African Bureau for…

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Minister reads a riot act on Zvimba Council over sewer challenges

Writes Elvis Dumba Raffingora – Residents of Raffingora Township in Zvimba District are living in fear of waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera due to the raw sewer effluent which is now a common feature in this small farming community. Residents of Raffingora petitioned the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for…

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Symposium enhances civic participation in water and environmental governance

The Network for Environmental and Climate Justice in collaboration with the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe Chapter held an Accountability for Water and Environment Symposium on 15 November 2023 in Harare. The symposium sought to enhance civic participation in water and environmental governance as well as…

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Combating NTDs: vaccination remains key

Writes Lovemore Chazingwa (Health Reporter) Empirical medical evidence has proved that mass drug administration is among the key ways to combat infection and possible death from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This is opposed to seeking treatment after infection, which requires huge financial outlays, normally out of reach among impoverished citizens. Mass drug administration remains cardinal…

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Nurses to perform surgery on trachoma trichiasis

Writes Lovemore Chazingwa (Health Reporter) A total twenty-two registered general nurses have attained qualification to perform surgery on trachoma trichiasis, one of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) prevalent in the country, a media training workshop has heard. These nurses were trained in 2016 after the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), through the National Institute…

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Need for increased TB investment: DEMT

Staff Writer The Disaster and Environmental Management Trust (DEMT) recently attended the UN High-Level Meeting on TB 2023 in New York which gave the organization the opportunity to directly interact with the Zimbabwe Country Delegation and reiterated the need for increased TB investments and national budget allocation for national TB response. This comes as TB…

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Baobab Collection throws a lifeline to communities in drier parts of Manicaland

Writes Tafadzwa Muranganwa A visit to a son-in-law in Birchenough a few years ago is all that led Aaron Chenjerai Mazorere of Chiadzwa to start the collection of the baobab fruit. He prides himself on initiating the project in his home area which has attracted a lot of interest from fellow villagers. “Some years back…

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Legislator Daniel Molokele calls for National Budget that prioritises health sector

The government should increase its allocation to the health sector in the National Budget, Hon Daniel Molokele, the legislator for Hwange Central, who is also the Chairman of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health has said. Hon Molokele is also the Chairperson of the African Parliamentary Taskforce on Domestic Resource Mobilisation. He made the remarks today…

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Initiatives to enhance food systems in Africa gain momentum

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – The vision towards enhancing food systems in Africa is gaining momentum as the continent is positioning itself and giving food and nutrition the necessary attention. This came to the fore at the 14th commemoration of the Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) and the 19th CAADP Partnership Platform (CAADP PP)…

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Accelerated implementation of CAADP to improve African food and nutrition security

There is an urgent need to accelerate the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), a continental framework for agricultural transformation and agriculture-led growth strategy to achieve ambitious targets on food and nutrition security as outlined in the Malabo Declaration. These were sentiments by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)’s Director of Agriculture,…

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CAADP PP, ADFNS to promote intra-Africa agri-food trade and improved nutrition

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – The 14th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) Commemoration and the 19th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Partnership Platform (CAADP PP) running from the 30th of October to the 2nd of November 2023 in Lusaka, Zambia will ensure cross-fertilization and provide a platform for sharing experiences and lessons and discussing…

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NetOne bankrolls regional pageant for people with albinism

Writes Lovemore Chazingwa The inaugural Mr and Miss Albinism Southern Africa pageant held last Saturday at Rainbow Towers in Harare was a resounding success, placating recognition in a seamless society for all sections of the community. Brenda Mudzimu, an advocate for persons with albinism and Executive director of Miss Albinism Zimbabwe Trust, said the regional…

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Call for eye health to be recognised as vital part of healthcare and development

This World Sight Day (12 October), international development organisation Sightsavers is calling on global leaders to end the geographical inequity of eye health services. Everyone, including remote and rural communities, women and girls, and people with disabilities, should have access to the services they need. Yet the availability of eye health services and products like…

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African Union launches continental strategy on education, health and wellbeing for young people

The African Union (AU), through the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), in collaboration with UNESCO, IPPF, UNFPA, and WHO, launched the Continental Strategy on Education for Health and Well-being of Young People. The African Union broadcasted the launch of the Continental Strategy on the 11th of October 2023 during the Global Forum…

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Only 7 African countries commercially grow genetically engineered crops

Here’s a blueprint to unlock the continent’s enormous farm and food potential The African continent has been home to genetically modified (GM) crops for more than 26 years, beginning in 1996 when insect-resistant GM maize was commercialized in South Africa. Since then, several GM crops have been developed on the continent, including cotton, cowpea, soybean,…

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Commendable strides registered towards meeting needs of various populations

During the 20th International Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation on Population and Development underway in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe has demonstrated that it is on track towards meeting the needs of its various populations. In his keynote address, while officially opening the event that will lead up to the commemoration of the 30th Anniversary…

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ZPHCA’s youth with disabilities peer learning programme positively transforms lives

Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children’s Association (ZPHCA) recently hosted the Youth with Disability Peer Learning Exchange Feedback Meeting in Harare. More than 30 youth with disabilities from various neighbourhoods of the greater Harare Province attended. The event was facilitated by Emilia July, Thomas Chanduru, and Fungai Muchoko. The 3 facilitators are all part of the…

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Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe takes stance against drug abuse

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) is committed to protecting public and animal health through its regulatory functions. As part of this mandate, MCAZ recognizes the urgent need to combat drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe. Drug abuse is a complex issue that affects individuals, families, and communities across Zimbabwe. It poses serious threats…

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No fair prices for medicine without access and transparency

MSF welcomes J&J’s decision to not enforce unnecessary patents on key TB drug

After years of advocacy to increase access to the lifesaving tuberculosis (TB) drug bedaquiline, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) welcomes Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) announcement to drop its secondary patents on the medicine. This decision means additional drugmakers will be allowed to make more affordable generic versions of the drug for people in low-…

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Prof. Eyal Leshem encourages harm reduction from respiratory, food-borne diseases

Prof. Eyal Leshem, the Director of the Institute for Travel Medicine and Tropical Diseases at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel has encouraged harm reduction from respiratory and food-borne infectious diseases. He made the remarks at the just-ended Health Harm Reduction Conference that was held in Marrakech, Morocco from 27 to 29 September 2023. “Foodborne…

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National Seed Fair breathes life into long-lost millet varieties

By Lloyd Rabaya As the Green Stars traditional dance group was dishing out their transcendent performance of the Mbakumba dance, the unmitigated crowd’s cheerful plaudits with the golden dust going straight to the skies marked the permanent return of a lost hope. Since time immemorial in Zimbabwe, different occasions called for different dances, which vary…

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MSF: Lawmakers must reauthorise PEPFAR for the next five years

OWN CORRESPONDENT NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 29, 2023—Allowing the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to expire tomorrow instead of reauthorizing it for the next five years would have catastrophic global health consequences, said the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Since its inception 20 years ago, PEPFAR has…

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Africa, global south should act now on disaster risks reduction

Dr. Tendai Mhizha, the Secretary-General of the Health Harm Reduction Conference has urged the Global South, with a particular focus on the African continent, to take appropriate action to address challenges hindering sustainable development. She made the remarks during the second edition of the African and first edition of the South-South Health Harm Reduction Conference…

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Government urged to open industries to curb drug abuse

Writes Clayton Masekesa The government of Zimbabwe has been urged to open industries and create employment opportunities for youths to curb the incessant drug abuse and other vices. This came out during a Mutare Peoples’ Assembly held in Mutare on Friday, initiated by Fight Inequality Alliance Zimbabwe (FIAZ), which is an initiative that is aimed…

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Health harm reduction necessary for sustainable development: Africa CDC

Dr Ahmed E. Ogwell Ouma, the Deputy Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)  has said health harm reduction is the most viable option for attaining sustainable development on the continent. He made the remarks yesterday at the second edition of the African and first edition of the South-South Health…

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Disaster preparedness key in addressing health emergencies

Healthcare systems should prepare proactively in cases of natural disasters, Dr. Katlego Mothudi, the Managing Director at the Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa (BHF) has said. He made the remarks today during the second edition of the African Conference on Risk Reduction that is taking place from September 27 to 29, 2023, in…

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Morocco health harm reduction conference tackles risks related to natural disasters

The second edition of the African Conference on Risk Reduction is taking place from September 27 to 29, 2023, in Marrakech, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. This internationally significant event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, and…

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