Ministry of Health and Child Care

08/11/2023

Happening now: The Ministry of Health and Child Care, in collaboration with Higher Life Foundation, is a holding a weeklong media sensitization workshop on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Harare, aimed at building journalists' capacity to articulate and simplify complex health information into engaging and impactful news stories.

The workshop seeks to also highlight Government interventions and collaboration with Higher Life Foundation and World Health Organization (WHO), among other partners, towards eliminating NTDs in Zimbabwe.

NTDs, including but not limited to schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, trachoma & soil-transmitted hilminthiasis, represent one of the leading causes of disability and lost economic productivity in vulnerable communities, disproportionately affecting women and children.

26/10/2023

The nursing advert circulating on social media is FAKE. The Public is warned not to fall prey of such fraudulent schemes.

24/10/2023

Actions to be Taken to Prevent Cholera
🙏🏽Washing hands thoroughly with soap under safe running water after taking care of someone with cholera, after using the toilet, before handling, preparing and eating food
🤝Avoiding shaking hands at public gatherings particularly during a cholera outbreak
💦Treating household water at the point of use by boiling or using chlorine (aquatabs, waterguard or jik)
🍊🥬Washing fruits or vegetables under safe running water before eating them
💩Always using the toilet to relieve yourself. ❌No to open defecation!!
🥘Cooking food thoroughly and eating whilst hot to prevent cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases
📌Maintaining good personal and community hygiene
🍱Avoiding eating or buying food from undesignated places
👩🏻‍⚕️Advising health workers at the nearest health facility immediately if suspecting cholera
🏥Seeking early treatment for cholera

🚌Travellers are advised to take all necessary precautions to avoid being infected.

Stay safe! Prevent Cholera!

23/10/2023

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT - INDOOR RESIDUAL SPRAYING (IRS)
The IRS season is currently underway in preparation for the malaria season that runs from November to May.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care 2023 IRS programme started during the second week of October and is expected to end by the end of December 2023. The IRS programme is being conducted in 22 high malaria transmission districts targeting to protect close to 3.2 million people from malaria.

19/10/2023

Thorough handwashing with soap and water can protect you and others from a range of infectious diseases including cholera.

18/10/2023

Cuban Chargé D'affaires Mrs Yoisy Ford Garcia today paid a courtesy call on Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora. The two discussed prospects for strengthening diplomatic cooperation in the areas of training of health workers, telemedicine and pharmaceuticals, among others.

16/10/2023

LET US FIGHT CHOLERA

1. Wash hands with soap under safe running water after using the toilet, before eating or cooking to prevent cholera or typhoid.
2. If you suspect cholera in your area, advise health workers at the nearest health facility immediately.
3. Avoid shaking hands at public gatherings, particularly funerals during a cholera outbreak.
4. Drink boiled or treated water to prevent cholera or typhoid.
5. Wash fruits or vegetables under safe running water before eating them to prevent cholera and typhoid.
6. Always use the toilet to relieve yourself. No to open defecation.
7. Cholera is a severe watery diarrheal disease with or without vomiting caused by vibrio cholerae. It kills fast. Take preventive action.
8. Cook food thoroughly and eat it whilst hot to prevent cholera, typhoid, and other diarrheal diseases.
9. All cholera-related deaths should be supervised by a health worker to prevent the spread of the disease.
10. Cholera kills fast if you delay seeking treatment. If you suspect cholera, visit your nearest health facility immediately.
11. Cholera and typhoid can be prevented by maintaining good personal hygiene.
12. If you suspect cholera at home start taking salt and sugar solution on your way to the clinic to prevent loss of body fluids.

12/10/2023

What Is Polio?

Poliomyelitis, commonly known as Polio, is a highly infectious disease which attacks the body’s nervous system. Sometimes the virus can attack the nerves in the spine leading to paralysis. In serious cases this can become permanent, leading to a loss of use of the limbs. Polio can also paralyze the muscles responsible for breathing and swallowing and without medical intervention death is imminent.

How is polio spread?

Polio is spread through ingesting contaminated water or food
Is Polio contagious?
Yes. Polio is a highly infectious disease spread mainly through close contact with an infected person. The virus only affects humans and is spread through the f***s of an infected person or via droplets after someone sneezes or coughs. Infection usually occurs because of poor hand washing or through the consumption of contaminated food or water. Unfortunately, a person can be infectious and transmit the virus even before symptoms develop.

What Are the Symptoms of Polio?

The main symptoms of Polio are:
Sudden weakness or paralyses of limbs.
Sudden failure to walk or crawl

What is the primary way to prevent polio?

There is no cure for Polio and the primary prevention is Polio vaccination.
What are the secondary ways of preventing polio?
Always use the toilet and avoid open defecation
Always wash hands with soap and clean water after using the toilet, before preparing, or eating food and after changing your child’s nappies
Wash fruits and vegetables with safe and clean water before eating
Drink boiled or treated water
Keep your environment clean at all times


What is the target population for the polio vaccination?

Even if your child was previously vaccinated in previous rounds, he /she should still get vaccinated for increased protection
Children who were vaccinated in the first and second round should come back during the third and subsequent rounds to get the recommended supplementary polio vaccine doses as long as they are still below 5 years of age
All new-born babies will also be vaccinated against Polio during the campaign

What should caregivers and parents do?

Ensure that all the children under the age of 5 years are vaccinated.
Encourage others in their respective areas to have their children vaccinated

Where will the vaccine be provided?

Health workers will visit your house to vaccinate your child
Vaccinations will also take place at health facilities, schools, markets, churches, bus stations, and all other meeting places.

Where to get more information?

Talk to a health worker in your area
Visit your nearest health center and get more information from health care workers
Enquire on our tollfree lines 2019 and 393 or on MoHCC official platforms

11/10/2023

Ministry of Health and Child Care with support from Sightsavers conducted a Trachoma review meeting highlighting what Zimbabwe is doing overrally in accelerating & sustaining elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases(NTD).
Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for Trachoma was conducted for Mutasa, Gweru &Nyanga Districts with a national treatment coverage of 83% overrally.
It was reinforced during the meeting that multi sectoral approach using the SAFE approach which includes trichiasis surgeries for correction of blindness, mass treatments using azithromycin in targeted districts as well as WASH remains the cornerstone of trachoma and other NTDs elimination.Overrally the programme has so far assisted 817 people with trachoma trichiasis surgeries saving them from blindness.

10/10/2023

What is happening now?
Countries neighbouring Zimbabwe reported cases of Poliomyelitis in 2022 and children under 5 years in Zimbabwe are at high risk of contracting the disease. To protect all children under 5 years government through the Ministry of Health and Childcare is conducting periodic rounds of Polio Vaccination countrywide to increase immunity against the disease until the threat is over.
Zimbabwe is collaborating with six other countries in the region (Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia) that are also conducting similar vaccination campaigns to protect children.
What are the dates of the polio vaccination campaign in Zimbabwe?
First round was conducted from 27 to 30 October 2022
Second round was conducted from 01 to 04 December 2022
Third round was conducted from 23 to 26 May 2023
Fourth round is scheduled for 10 to 13 October 2023

10/10/2023

20th International Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Population and Development Day 2

09/10/2023

Yesterday, China Vice Minister of National Health Commission, Dr Yu Xuejun, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, in Victoria Falls, where the two discussed prospects of strengthening already existing relations and cooperation in the health sector.

09/10/2023

Today, His Excellency, President Dr ED Mnangagwa will officially open the 20th International Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Population and Development: A high level thematic consultation leading to ICPD30, in Victoria Falls.

09/10/2023

20th International Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Population and Development

06/10/2023

03/09/2023

Special Rebroadcast TCM Acupuncture

02/09/2023

Healthcare Transformation Health TALK- Oral Health

02/09/2023

Healthcare Transformation Talks-Obesity :Misunderstood Epidemic

01/09/2023

Healthcare Transformation Talks- How is Cancer Diagonised

01/09/2023

Join us today at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS) 2023 as we talk about mental health and pathology.

01/09/2023

Welcome to our LiveBroadcast | Healthcare Transformation Talks-Stress Management

01/09/2023

Welcome to our LiveBroadcast | Healthcare Transformation Talks. Paediatric Ophthalmology

01/09/2023

Welcome to our LiveBroadcast | Healthcare Transformation Talks . Drugs and Substance Abuse

31/08/2023

Healthcare Transformation Talks-Prostate Cancer

31/08/2023

HealthCare and Transformation Talks- Eye Health and Common eye diseases

31/08/2023

Healthcare Transformation Talks-Blood Cancer Services

31/08/2023

HealthCare Transformation Talks- General Cancer Information

31/08/2023

Join us today at the Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 Agricultural Show (ZAS) 2023 as we talk about cancer at the Ministry of Health and Child Care stand, Transformation Health Talks Forum.

30/08/2023

Transformation Health Talks

30/08/2023

Join us today at the Zimbabwe Agric Show (ZAS) 2023 for Health Care Transformation Talks with some of the country's leading Specialist Doctors.

02/08/2023

Today, His Excellency, President Dr ED Mnangagwa officially opened the 22 bedded Cowdray Park Health Centre in Bulawayo. The facility has theatre, male, female, martenity and paediatric wards, as well as the X-ray and rehabilitation units.

29/07/2023

Murehwa District Hospital has benefited from the Government and World Bank Co-financed Results Based Financing (RBF) program under the Health Sector Development Support (HSDS) Additional Financing V.

05/07/2023

Watch video of the inspection ceremony of one of the 12 emergency air ambulances, held yesterday at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. The emergency air ambulances were recently procured by Government to service the country.

Ministry of Health and Child Care officials inspect one of the air ambulances that were procured by Government to service the country.

27/06/2023

His Excellency, President Dr E D Mnangagwa, who was accompanied by VP and Minister of Health and Child Care, Gen (Rtd) Dr C.G.D.N Chiwenga, handed over an ambulance and various medical equipment to St Peter’s Mission Hospital in Checheche, Chipinge, over the weekend.

The equipment included 24 hospital beds, four delivery beds, an anaesthetic machine, five oxygen concentrators, four patient monitors, 10 humidifiers, four drip standards and two boxes of nasal oxygen cannula.

22/06/2023

Today, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Gen. (Rtd) Dr C.G.D.N. Chiwenga, witnessed the re-launch of the Open Heart Surgery at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after a 5-year sabbatical. Specialist Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon, Dr Simukayi Machawira, will be leading the procedure.

21/06/2023

Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (PGH) is set to resume Open Heart Surgery tomorrow, 22 June 2023.

Watch video for more details.

12/06/2023

🇿🇼

"Solar powered refrigerators allow safe storage of vaccines in health facilities. The power backup has helped us provide regular immunization services" - Dr Andrew Muza (Acting Provincial Medical Director Matabeleland South).

24/05/2023

Yesterday, the Acting President who is also the Minister of Health of Child Care, Gen. (Rtd) Dr C.G.D.N Chiwenga, launched various medical anf ICT equipment, 8 refrigerated service trucks and buses worth over US$12m.

Among others, the equipment included, x-ray machines, ventilators and defibrillators earmarked for distribution across health centres around the country.

The consignment will go a long way in ensuring the supply of medicines in health facilities as well as ease transport woes for health workers.