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Govt to set up emergency operations centre |
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Tuesday, 15 February 2011 20:55 |
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Herald Reporters
Government will soon establish an emergency operations centre to coordinate disasters/outbreaks, a senior Health Ministry official has said.
Opening a national training of trainers in emergency preparedness and response workshop in Harare yesterday, the Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Welfare, Dr Gerald Gwinji said a national rapid response team would be attached to the EOC and a dedicated budget will be allocated towards the initiative.
“I would like to assure you of our determination to develop a solid national emergency preparedness and response system at all level with strong national coordination.
“This will assist rapid response, and to this end an emergency operations centre has been planned for the ministry headquarters,†Dr Gwinji said.
Dr Gwinji said with control of most disease outbreaks established, there is need to make sure that everyone in the health sector is well informed of their roles and responsibilities during emergencies.
Head of Virology at the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Ms Barbra Bhebhe, said the initiative would help rid Zimbabwe of cholera and other hazards.
Health professionals, veterinary health officers, uniformed forces’ health officers and representatives of the World Health Organisation are participating in the fiveday training workshop.
Its main objectives include ensuring increased awareness to understand risk, vulnerability and disaster reduction, promoting commitment by Government to risk reduction and ensuring increased research on causes of disasters.
Last year the national Cholera Command and Control Centre trained response teams for 16 districts and the remaining ones are set to also benefit this year.
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Adults urged to donate blood |
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Tuesday, 15 February 2011 20:54 |
Health Reporter
Adults should donate to the national blood bank as they are the major beneficiaries, Government has said.
The national blood bank level is far below minimum requirements of 3 000 units with just 1 200 in stock.
School children constitute the bulk of blood donors in Zimbabwe.
In his remarks during the Valentine’s Day blood campaign in Harare on Monday, Health and Child Welfare Minister Henry Madzorera said while 70 percent of the blood bank is contributed by youths, adults used 80 percent of the stock.
“This creates a grossly unfair situation by the adult population, who in my view should do some soulsearching and contribute to the well being of the nation.
“The reason why NBSZ (National Blood Services Zimbabwe) experiences seasonal shortages is because as adults we have abdicated our roles and responsibilities to youths.
“We must recognise we all have a role to play,†Minister Madzorera said.
In an interview afterwards, NBSZ spokesperson Mr Emmanuel Masvikeni said the demand for blood had shoot up in recent years.
Mr Masvikeni attributed this to the fact that the bank also subsidises nongovernmental organisations that give blood for free to pregnant women.
The United Nations Population Fund buys coupons from NBSZ and donates these to hospitals.
Pregnant women then access free blood at the hospitals through the coupons.
He also attributed the high demand to malaria season.
“We are not satisfied with our current stocks of blood because demand has shot up. “Our adults should also consider donating blood to ensure sufficient stocks for the country,†Mr Masvikeni said.
He said as part of their efforts to make blood more accessible, NBSZ has reduced prices for Government institutions from US$78 to US$65 a pint.
Patients receiving treatment from a private institution will fork out US$100 down from US$105, while at mission hospitals the cost remains at US$50 a pint.
Mr Masvikeni said NBSZ had opened three walkin sites in Harare, Chivhu and Hwange to widen their area of coverage.
In collaboration with United States of America’s, President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, NBSZ will open six mobile blood collection teams in the next four years.
NBSZ will get US$55 million annually from PEPFAR and so far they have received US$1,8 million.
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Tuesday, 15 February 2011 20:44 |
The human body is the only manufacturer of blood. Therefore, you can help save the life of a patient by donating safe blood.
Some of the major reasons for blood transfusion are,
Severe blood loss due to:
l Road traffic accidents
l Complicated child births
l Major surgical operations
l Industrial accidents
l Blood disorders eg sickle cell anaemia.
Anybody between the ages of 16 and 60, who is healthy and weighs at least 50kg can donate blood
Do I have enough blood?
The average adult has four to five liters of blood. A single donation is 450ml. Donors can give blood safely three times a year (females), and four times a year (males).
Before each donation, a health check is done. It takes no more than 15 minutes to donate blood.
What tests are done on donating blood?
Blood is screened in order to determine the blood groups (A,B, O Rhesus groups) of the donor. Normally only blood of the same group as that of the patient is given to the recipient of the blood.
Blood is also screened for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis.
All tests are done in strict confidence by the National Blood Services Zimbabwe laboratories. The health of the person who receives blood is of paramount importance hence screening of all donated blood.
NBSZ is not a centre for screening for diseases in the population.
If you are worried about your health, please contact your nearest clinic/doctor or voluntary counseling and testing centre.
What are blood groups?
Blood groups are inherited from parents. They do not change for the rest of ones’ life. A human being can have any one of the following blood groups:
A rhesus positive (+)
A Rhesus negative ()
B Rhesus positive (+)
B Rhesus negative ()
AB Rhesus positive (+)
AB Rhesus negative ()
O Rhesus positive (+)
O Rhesus negative ()
Who will be told if there is something wrong with my blood?
Only your doctor or counseling organisation of your choice will be told the results. No one will be informed without your written consent.
Are there any side effects?
No. A person in good health should feel perfectly well after donating blood. We will give you light refreshment and ask you to rest for a few minutes. However, in any case of any adverse effects, professionally trained staff will attend to you.
Will I catch Aids from donating blood?
No. All equipment used in taking blood is used only once on each donor. Used needles and lancets etc. is disposed of by burning after a single use.
Is my sex life or daily working routine affected by donating blood?
No. You should be able to perform your duties normally after giving blood. However, donors should not perform strenuous physical activities for the remainder of the day.
Why do hospitals charge for blood when it is donated free?
Blood is not “soldâ€Â. A service charge is levied to cover the cost incurred in taking blood from the donor to the patient.
Some of the costs include:
l Transport to collect blood
l Blood collection consumables (blood bags, needles, etc)
l Laboratory testing
l Storage and distribution
l Processing and testing equipment
l Equipment maintenance
l Staff expenses
Blood is priceless. Nobody can put a price on blood.
Will I receive payment for giving blood?
No. Blood donation is done on voluntary basis. The greatest payment you can have is knowing that you have helped save a fellow human being’s life.  Source: NBSZ and WHO.
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ARVs: Side effects under probe |
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Thursday, 10 February 2011 20:54 |
 THERE are some people who have been on ART for sometime now and had been doing well.
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Diet soda, salt boost stroke risk: Study |
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Wednesday, 09 February 2011 21:02 |
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 WASHINGTON.
A pair of studies released yesterday suggests that diet soda drinkers face a higher risk of heart attack and stroke than people who do not drink any soda, and that salty food boosts stroke risks, too.
The soda study examined 2 564 people in Manhattan and found that those who repo-rted consuming diet fizzy drinks daily had a 61 percent higher risk of vascular events than people who said they did not drink any soda at all.
When researchers factored in allowances for metabolic syndrome, peripheral vascular disease and heart disease history, the risk was 48 percent higher, said the research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference.
“If our results are confirmed with future studies, then it would suggest that diet soda may not be the optimal substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages,†said lead study author Hannah Gardener at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
A second study looked at 2 657 participants in the same area and found that high salt intake was linked to a dramatically increased risk of ischemic strokes, in which a blockage cuts blood flow to the brain.
People who reported eating more than 4 000 milligrams of sodium daily  the amount contained in four large orders of french fries in the United States  faced twice the risk of stroke as people who consumed less than 1 500 milligrams per day.
The average American consumes about 3 000 milligrams of salt per day, according to the study, though previous research has said it could be as high as 4 000 milligrams per day.
“Stroke risk, independent of hypertension, increased 16 percent for every 500 milligrams of sodium consumed a day,†allowing for adjustments for age, sex, ethnicity, education, alcohol use, exercise, daily caloric intake, smoking status, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and previous heart disease, it said.
Current dietary guidelines in the United States urge people to consume less that 2 300 milligrams of sodium per day, or about a teaspoon of salt.
The American Heart Association recommends less than 1 500 milligrams per day.  AFP.
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Junk food damages brain  Study |
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Tuesday, 08 February 2011 21:08 |
 Toddlers fed a diet of junk food can suffer lasting damage to their brainpower, researchers warn.
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Junior doctors return to work |
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Thursday, 03 February 2011 21:10 |
 Health Reporter
Junior doctors at Harare Central Hospital who downed tools on Tuesday demanding better on-call allowances have returned to work following a meeting with management.
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Kid burnt during church healing session |
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Thursday, 03 February 2011 09:31 |
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 Chronicle Reporter
AN 11-year-old girl from Bulawayo’s Mzilikazi suburb was seriously burnt during a healing session using hot water and covering her under a blanket last week on Friday.
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Harare Hospital Junior Doctors strike |
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Tuesday, 01 February 2011 22:23 |
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 By Paidamoyo Chipunza
Junior doctors at Harare Central Hospital yesterday went on strike, demanding an upward variation of on-call allowances.
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Baby born with 2 faces, 4 arms, 4 legs |
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Thursday, 20 January 2011 21:58 |
 By Walter Nyamukondiwa and Paidamoyo Chipunza
A CHINHOYI woman Thursday gave birth to a baby with two faces, four legs and four arms at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital in an incident that has left many people baffled.
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Zim considers exporting jobless nurses: Minister |
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Monday, 17 January 2011 22:03 |
 GOVERNMENT is considering exporting unemployed nur-ses to neighbouring countries to assist them secure jobs.
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by Paidamoyo Chipunza
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