Zimbabwe News

3 Aug. 2012, Mhondoro: World Breastfeeding week was launched in Mhondoro under the theme Understanding the past—Planning for the future. Celebrating 10 years of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. The event, which was attended by the Mhondoro community, UN agencies, and other players in child health and nutrition, aimed to celebrate the successes and achievements of the past 10 years and to call for action to bridge the remaining gaps in policy and programmes on breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding.

Wedza, 17 Sept. 2012 -- In line with the new global momentum towards the control, elimination and eradication of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs ) , Zimbabwe launched a mass drug administration against schistosomiasis (bilharzia ) and soil transmitted helminthes ( intestinal worms ) at a function held at Wedza High School.

The mass drug administration is the final phase of a process which started with a national prevalence survey in 2010, and the development of the master plan that began in 2011 and completed in 2012.

Harare, 17 Oct. 2012 -- Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating Global Handwashing Day at an event held at Zengeza High School in Chitungwiza. The event, which was held under the theme Help more children reach their 5th birthday was targeted at schoolchildren, because children are enthusiastic and open to new ideas and often act as agents of change by taking the “handwashing lessons” back into their homes and communities.

Harare, 12 Nov. 2012 -- Today the new WHO Representative to Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello presented his credentials to the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Simbarashe Mumbengegwi at his Munhumutapa Building offices.

31 May 2013 -- Today Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating World No Tobacco Day in an event held at Rutendo Hall in Mufakose, Harare. This commemoration comes when  Zimbabwe is working on ratifying the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), and hoping to implement their obligations under the framework convention.

Harare, 13 June 2013 -- In a bid to strengthen relations between the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and WHO, the WHO Representative, Dr David Okello invited the Honorable Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Henry Madzorera for an informal tour of the WHO compound. The tour was preceded by lunch at the Jacaranda Space where the Honorable Minister and the WR discussed health issues informally. The lunch and tour was attended by some officers from both WHO and the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.

15 June 2013 -- Zimbabwe’s young blood donors were acknowledged and honored as the country joined the rest of the world in celebrating world blood donor day under the theme “Give the gift of life, donate blood.”. This year’s commemorations were held at Mutendi High School in Masvingo. Mutendi High School donat-ed the highest number of blood units in Masvingo province in 2012. The National winners were John Tal-lach High School of Matebeleland North Province.

Harare, 29 October 2013 -- Zimbabwe held joint commemorations for the global hand washing day and the national sanitation week in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe in Mashonaland East province. The joint commemorations were held at Uzumba primary school and brought together players in the WASH cluster, school children and some political leaders in a show of government commitment to improve sanitation. 

Harare, 4 Nov. 2013 -- The United Nations Country team in Zimbabwe, women’s activists, and the Ministry of Health and Child Care spoke loudly on one of Zimbabwe’s health challenges as the United Nations Agencies in Zimbabwe celebrated the 68th anniversary of the United Nations at Chitungwiza Central Hospital with a call “For Safer Motherhood in Zimbabwe”.

Harare, 14 Nov. 2013 -- This was said by the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Paul Chimedza in a joint press conference he held with the WHO Representative for Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello and local media. This follows some media reports in the days following the Mass Drug Administration (MDAs) that some children were falling sick and 3 had died after taking the drugs.