“As of May 16, 2023, a cumulative total of 1,017 suspected cholera cases, six laboratory confirmed deaths, 20 suspected cholera deaths and 288 laboratory confirmed cases were reported,” the Ministry of Health and Child Care said on Wednesday.
There were 51 people hospitalized for cholera as of May 15, while the national recovery rate stood at 92 percent.
According to the ministry, the capital city Harare is among the country’s 17 cholera hotspot districts, and most cases have been reported in the western high-density suburbs where some residents live under unhygienic conditions.
In terms of confirmed cases, Matabeleland South Province is the highest hit with 96, followed by Manicaland Province with 89, then Harare with 80, the government figures show.
Kaseya, who was appointed as the new head of the Africa CDC by the African Union (AU) Assembly in February this year, said in a statement that African countries are highly encouraged to strengthen vaccination programs to avoid losing the gains made by accelerating efforts.
African countries “need to make sure that none of our children are left behind from the full benefits of getting vaccinated,” said Kaseya, noting that over the last decades, vaccines have saved millions of lives, prevented serious illnesses and outbreaks, and reduced healthcare costs.
He, however, stressed a need to intensify these efforts.
According to Kaseya, many of the children who are missing out on routine immunization live across different settings, including urban areas, remote communities and populations in conflict settings. “The importance of strengthening routine immunization, reaching zero-dose children and achieving vaccine equity cannot be overemphasized.”
Kaseya said the African continent can register good healthcare outcomes if it can reach communities with routine as well as COVID-19 vaccines, integrating service provision and supplemental vaccination activities. And strengthening basic routine immunizations across the African continent will help protect individuals who are at higher risk, such as children, from contracting serious and sometimes deadly illnesses like measles, polio, and rubella.
“In accelerating the big catch-up, the call to action is to put a stronger focus on reaching the most vulnerable communities with integrated approaches that deliver multiple services,” he said.
The Africa CDC chief also stressed that such interventions will eventually ensure the protection of the African populace, strengthen health systems, and lead to the path to health and prosperity.
“It is important that we ensure access to essential health services and build resilient health systems that can adequately protect the African population from vaccine-preventable diseases,” Kaseya said.
He further underscored the COVID-19 pandemic’s unprecedented pressure on vaccine supply chains, primary healthcare systems, health workforces, and national budgets in Africa.
{Over the past seven years, Rwanda has significantly reduced the burden of malaria, with the infection rate dropping from 409 cases per 1000 people in 2016 to just 76 cases per 1000 people in 2022. Malaria deaths also fell by more than 89% over the same period.}
This achievement has been possible thanks to efforts by the government, in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, to expand and decentralize malaria control initiatives to the community level through a range of measures from public education to prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Community health workers have been integral to the country’s efforts to combat the disease. Partnering with WHO, the country has trained 30 000 community health workers to provide comprehensive malaria treatment at home, saving hundreds of lives in the process. In 2022, 55% of all recorded cases were diagnosed and treated by community health workers, compared with 15% in 2016.
Esther Urimubenshi, a 50-year-old farmer from the Bugesera district of Rwanda’s Eastern Province, used to dread the rainy season, when the constant threat of malaria loomed over her family.
In 2016, Esther fell ill with malaria three times in just two months, despite taking medication. “The fever, chills, and weakness left me bedridden and unable to care of my family or tend to my crops. It was in a dark time,” she says.
But Esther’s fortunes have changed. Theoneste Nezehose, a community health worker in Esther’s area, has for the past 12 years dedicated efforts to support Esther and her community to combat malaria.
Theoneste educated Esther and her family on the importance of good practices to avert malaria transmission and on other prevention measures including the removal of mosquito breeding sites and the proper use of mosquito nets. It has now been more than two years since Esther had malaria.
“Malaria was constantly haunting us, but Theoneste has been our beacon of light,” she says.
In addition to disseminating critical information on malaria prevention, community health workers like Theoneste provide early diagnosis and treatment, distribute insecticide-treated bed nets and conduct indoor residual spraying to help prevent transmission. They also monitor and report all cases to the nearest health facility.
“I receive supplies and training support from Mayange Health Centre, seven kilometres from here. I send weekly updates and they help with referral cases,” says Theoneste. “Being able to make a difference in the lives of people like Esther and other fellow community members is a privilege I cherish every day.”
“Community health workers are the unsung heroes of the fight against malaria in the country,” says Dr Emmanuel Hakizimana, acting head of the malaria division at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the Ministry of Health’s implementing wing.
“Thanks to them, we have been able to bring malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment into the heart of the community, which has also reduced the strain on health facilities.”
This approach of community case management has worked in tandem with other interventions. This includes the distribution of more than 6 million bed nets, with one net for every two household members. A ratio of at least one net for every two household members is considered typically sufficient to achieve universal coverage in a population. In addition, indoor residual spraying has been scaled up from three to 12 districts which usually represent the highest burden of malaria cases.
The country has also increased access to health services for all through its Community Based Health Insurance scheme, helping to ensure that people receive free, prompt malaria treatment.
WHO has been a key partner in the country’s fight against malaria. The Organization has supported community health worker trainings the development of technical guidelines as well as the development and implementation of a national strategic plan for 2020‒2024, with the primary goal of reducing malaria morbidity and mortality by at least 50% compared with the 2019 levels.
“Community health workers are the backbone of community health programmes and contribute immensely to managing diseases like malaria,” says Dr Jules Mugabo Semahore, Head of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at WHO Rwanda.
“They play a crucial role in reaching remote and underserved communities with life-saving interventions. WHO continues to partner with the Ministry of Health to capacitate this cornerstone of the fight against malaria.”
The diagnosis and treatment of malaria was decentralized to improve the prompt treatment of malaria cases and target all age groups, says Dr Hakizimana.
He adds that in the coming years, the country plans to tackle the primary challenges to Rwanda’s malaria control programme. This includes the effective management of forms malaria transmission that can persist after achieving full universal coverage with nets and indoor residual spraying, for example, when mosquitoes feed on people who are active or outdoors, or feed on livestock. The country will enhance operational research and digitalize data on malaria cases at village and household levels, addressing the lack of aggregated data this level.
The programme intends to sustain the capacity of community health workers like Theoneste. He is proud of his ongoing contribution towards this fight. “What keeps me going is seeing first-hand the difference that my work makes in my community,” he says. “It’s an incredible feeling.”
Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Health, said during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that the hub is a huge resource to Kenya given that the country is faced with an increasing number of health emergencies ranging from disease outbreaks such as the ongoing cholera outbreak in Kenya and the recent outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the region.
“These emergencies pose major health, social, economic and security risks that threaten to reverse years of health and development progress in Africa,” Nakhumicha said.
She lauded the WHO for the support, adding that over the past three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of preparedness and response in the face of health emergencies.
Nukhumicha said that Kenya is further collaborating with the WHO in developing disease-specific contingency plans, including viral hemorrhagic fevers, pandemic influenza, cholera, Rift Valley fever and polio.
She noted that through the partnership with the WHO, Kenya will have access to the UN health agency’s global network of experts, knowledge and resources. The hub will enable Kenya to build on the progress already made toward achieving universal health coverage in Kenya.
Abdourahmane Diallo, the WHO country representative in Kenya, said that the new innovative initiative is aimed at improving the capacities of African countries to respond in real-time to increasingly numerous and complex health emergencies.
Diallo noted that the WHO regional office for Africa is strengthening and expanding the emergencies hub to coordinate high-quality responses to health emergencies in Kenya and other eastern and southern African countries.
He said that the hub will serve as a modern storage center for essential medical equipment and consumables that will ensure timely logistical support to countries with emergencies in eastern and southern Africa. It is expected to house a center of excellence specialized in capacity building in health and crisis emergency management.
The hub would allow the WHO to effectively and swiftly support Kenya and all eastern and southern African countries by maintaining stockpiles of medical and logistical supplies, training multi-disciplinary teams of human-resource to serve as Africa’s elite emergency experts to ensure quick deployment during public health and humanitarian emergencies in Kenya and Africa as a whole.
UNICEF, in its report entitled “State of the World’s Children 2023: For Every Child, Vaccination – Regional Brief: Eastern and Southern Africa” issued late Thursday, said immunization is “one of humanity’s most remarkable success stories. It has saved countless lives.”
Figures from UNICEF show that globally, an estimated 67 million children missed out entirely or partially on routine immunization from 2019 to 2021. In Eastern and Southern Africa, this figure is 12 million children.
“As these children pass the age when vaccines are routinely given, it will require a dedicated effort to ensure that they catch up with their vaccinations,” UNICEF said.
Noting that immunization allows children everywhere to live lives free of many forms of disability and illness, UNICEF said immunization has led to the eradication of smallpox, a disfiguring and often fatal disease that in the 20th century alone claimed an estimated 300 million lives.
“There has been remarkable progress, too, towards eradicating polio. The power of immunization was demonstrated again in the COVID-19 pandemic,” the report said.
It said the backsliding in immunization highlighted that the story of zero-dose and under-vaccinated children is overwhelmingly a story of inequities.
“The children who are not vaccinated are also often the children of mothers who have not been able to go to school and who are given little say in family and spending decisions,” UNICEF said.
It said immunization is key to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” It is also linked to 13 of the other SDGs.
“In that sense, immunization is at the heart of our collective commitment to achieve a better and more sustainable future for us all,” UNICEF said.
Gynecologist Dr. Emery Nimubona says that one should have no difficulty getting pregnant again as fertility will return almost immediately after discontinuing any birth control method, with the exception of what is known as injectable depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA).
A contraceptive injection is administered every three months, which allows the user to not worry about pregnancy daily.
With this contraception, it may take a while before you can conceive once you stop using it.
Dr. Nimubona told IGIHE that a person using this contraceptive would have to wait at least a year after discontinuing this method to plan their pregnancy.
You have the liberty not to worry about contraceptives for months and still get to be fertile only a year after discontinuing this birth control.
This remains one of the most used contraceptives in Africa, especially by women who do not wish for society or their families to be aware that they are on birth control.
Hormonal contraception comes with known side effects. So, it is crucial to speak with a medical professional before using any contraceptives and understand these effects.
A therapist, counselor, psychologist, shrink, however you refer to a certified mental health practitioner, is not in any way supposed to solve whichever reason you come to them with.
They can help you get in touch with your true self but not erase your painful memories. They can guide you in digging deep to find the root of a certain habit but
they cannot force you to behave in different ways.
And most importantly, they cannot read your mind as some have neither come to believe nor can they clear your past.
Many who have had sessions with counselors have different experiences because each of us is different and certainly reasons that bring us to those professionals are not similar but you can count on them to do their best to provide you with the help you need. What I like most about it is the confidentiality that the relationship brings where you are allowed to be free and speak your mind without worrying that there will be any sort of gossip outside of what you said during the sessions.
Some have the excuse that these professionals are hard to find in Rwanda but that is false. Clinics are available with trained and licensed counselors ready to help you at any time, and those worried about how much it will cost, know that it is all worth
it and most of these centers accept several insurances. So, do not let that be the reason you do not get help.
There are also virtual ways to get mental health care like Positive which is one of the apps that you can download and seek an appointment with a counselor for free as it is a platform that volunteers and give time and skills to be there when you need help.
So, go to therapy with an open mind and be ready to do the work with the help of your therapist, and be the best you that you can be.
Sexual trauma is the exposure to any sexually inappropriate behaviors that cause a person to experience a great deal of stress.
Inappropriate sexual behaviors can be physical, from being touched or grabbed in a sexual manner. It could also be verbal through humiliation or threats of sexual acts, it could be visual, such as being forced to view sexual images or acts.
These behaviors could lead to the victim being physically hurt, experiencing intense fear, or even being forced into performing sexual acts.
A lady called Rosa (not her real name) tells us her experience, being new to relationships. Rosa did not know how she was supposed to behave but with her naivety, she decided to trust her partner believing that he would not do something to her that they both did not agree on and though it was not the first time he had made moves on her, it was certainly a day she will never forget.
The pain she felt, covered in blood, the tears and screams begging him to stop, all remained futile. And when he was satisfied, she had to get herself up and clean what she could but never the emotional scars and definitely never to get her innocence back.
Continuing life like nothing happened only lasted her so long until one day in the shower that it all came crashing down like she was back reliving every single second that felt like it lasted longer than it should, she blamed herself for it all. For agreeing to be in the relationship in the first place to believing that he would not hurt her, to not fighting hard enough before serious damages occurred.
Most people blame the person who experienced this or similar to it saying that it is their fault for trusting the wrong person or that they are lying that in some way they caused it by being there or seducing the other in the first place which makes people who face such events to keep it to themselves rather than being seen as the starters, hence increasing the possibility of more trauma due to keeping it all bottled up.
Just because a person goes through sexual assault does not make them less of the person they were before it happened. They are still the same and more in need of the support of their loved ones more than ever regardless of their own contribution to the event or not.
And for all those having faced this, open up to a mental health specialist to help you heal and though it may be hard and takes time but you will rise from the ashes to the beautiful creature you are.
We all know women(by nature/biological) have “visits” where during that time, they bleed, and though like everything else in this world, this is another experience that is different for each woman varying from when it begins, length of it, how much, all that is considered normal and more.
Now you wonder, what does PCOS have to do with this? Well, PCOS or in full words Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a condition that affects women, described as a syndrome rather than a disease because it shows up as a group of signs and symptoms that can occur in any combination.
It is caused by a hormone or insulin imbalance that affects how a woman’s menstrual cycle usually goes, it is also hereditary, either parent can be a carrier.
There are several symptoms that show if one has PCOS. One is Oligomenorrhea, which is when women have prolonged periods of no menstruation for 36 days or more, and lack ovulation.
Then, there might be Hyperandrogenism, which is the excessive presence of the male sex hormones testosterone, androsterone, and androstenedione which is the cause of excess hair growth, loss, and acne.
It is understandable that with the above information one may be scared. As a matter of fact, many who are diagnosed with this syndrome end up feeling depressed or with anxiety due to body image and possible infertility but to assure you, Estella (not actual name) shared her experience with IGIHE.
When she was diagnosed with this syndrome years after having been experiencing some of the symptoms for a couple of years, she could not decide if she was relieved or sad.
For years, doctors told her that her weight was an issue even though they most likely did not know enough about the condition.
This felt more like body shaming because she has always been plus-size, so with every prolonged period which can cause serious anemia to some. She dreaded going to hospital even more.
Then, in her 20s when most ladies get diagnosed, she was told she had PCOS by a doctor who saw her as more than just an overweight girl, and she started a treatment that is now helping her get her menstrual cycle back on track.
Ladies during their periods go through a lot but add PCOS and you get longer painful and heavy bleeding, not to mention how it can affect them physically and emotionally.
If you know someone with similar symptoms or you are one yourself, know you are not alone. Get diagnosed by a specialist (Gynaecologist) and get yourself the help you deserve.
The most sought-after treatment resulting in medical tourism amongst undeveloped and developing countries include; weight loss treatment, fertility treatment, cardiovascular treatment, cosmetic treatment, orthopedic treatment and cancer treatment which cannot be satisfactorily received in their home country due to lack of inadequate medical infrastructure, and high expenses. According to a report, around 650,000 people traveled from Africa for medical tourism in 2015. Since then, the numbers have been rapidly growing with the African market losing billions in medical tourism each year.
{{Dubai is Rapidly Growing as a Destination for Medical Tourism}}
In recent years, Dubai is slowly emerging as the preferred destination for medical tourism amongst international travelers, ranking sixth in the Global Medical Tourism Index issued by the International Healthcare Research Centre (IHRC). Besides its breathtaking tourist attractions from its impressive skyline, to spectacular buildings, glamorous malls, mouth-watering cuisine, high-end restaurants, 5-star hotels, stunning beaches, and dazzling nightlife, Dubai has become the latest trend in medical tourism.
Over the years, the country has invested in healthcare infrastructure with the aim of becoming one of the best medical tourism destinations in the world rapidly surpassing countries like France and Brazil with the introduction of an affordable and more effective medical care system.
The Healthcare System in Dubai is managed by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) which have put in place effort to develop medical tourism as a means of attracting tourist and improving the city’s economy. As the medical tourism market continues to improve in Dubai, it has attracted international patients from around the world and has become the number one top medical destination in the Arab region.
It also received the highest ranking in the region for its handling of the COVID -19 pandemic. Dubai Healthcare offers several healthcare treatments ranging from dental surgery, cardiac surgery, cosmetic surgeries, psychological treatment, and convalescent care amongst others. However, according to reports, orthopedics, dermatology, and ophthalmology are the most sought-after treatments.
While Dubai has seen rapid development in its medical tourism market and has become a famous medical destination for people in pursuit of cheaper/ more effective medical care, the medical tourism market remains quite competitive. Countries like India, Turkey, Malaysia, Brazil, and Singapore are known for their effective medical treatments which have been a major source of attraction to international travelers.
-# India is home to world-class medical professionals, with effective medical services. The country’s medical tourism market is ranked No.1 in the medical tourism sector by Medical Tourism Index. India’s healthcare offers medical treatments like spine treatments, Cardiac surgery, Gastroenterology, orthopedic treatments, oncology, fertility treatments, and complicated surgeries like Organ transportation.
-# Turkey is a popular medical tourism destination for travelers in need of eye care, cancer treatment, orthopedic, and heart care.
-# Malaysia is prominent for its high-end medical facilities and it offers oncology treatment, blood work, general surgery as well as in-vitro fertilization.
-# Singapore is a cost-effective medical tourism destination and it is known as one of the best medical tourism destinations in Asia. It is a great tourism destination for patients in need of general treatment like cardiology, cancer treatment, and oncology.
-# Singapore has International Patient Service Centers (IPSCs) which act as a medical travel agency to mediate between international patients and Singaporean healthcare providers.
-# Brazil is popular for its cheap and impressive cosmetic surgery. It has one of the most thriving medical tourism markets in the world.
-# Germany is widely known for its innovative technologies for surgeries. The country was ranked 12th by Medical Tourism Index. It offers healthcare services ranging from oncology, cardiac surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Hematology, and Oncology.
-# The United Kingdom is ranked fifth in the global ranking of medical tourism destinations by the world by Medical Tourism Index. The country is prominent for its state-of-the-art medical facilities.
-# The United Kingdom offers services like Oncology, Trauma treatment, Diabetes treatment, skincare treatments as well as fertility
-# Canada has been ranked as one of the most preferred destinations by the Medical Tourism Index. It is popular for its surgical procedures i.e. angioplasty, joint replacements, plastic surgery, and coronary angiography.
{{Why Dubai Should Be Your Preferred Medical Tourism Destination}}
{{1) Outstanding Infrastructure and Facilities}}
Dubai is a slick country that has continued to attract international visitors with its marvelous real estate from the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, to the spectacular beaches, glamorous hotels, splendid weather, and thriving food scene. As a country with outstanding infrastructural facilities with major tourist attractions, international travelers are wooed and this account for one of the reasons why Dubai has seen a major boost in its medical Tourism market. Today, Dubai is one of the most sought-after Medical Tourism destinations for its breathtaking setting and convenient geographic location.
{{2) Timely Access to Healthcare Services}}
Dubai has put in place an efficient healthcare system that enables international visitors to get fast and easy access to any medical treatment. This is one of the major attractions of Dubai as a medical tourism destination for international travelers who cannot tolerate the long wait lists in their home country. Due to a large number of qualified doctors and nurses in Dubai hospitals, the medical process which usually takes months in other countries is reduced to a day or two in the city.
{{3) Inexpensive Medical Cost}}
The major reason why Dubai is now regarded as one of the most sought-after medical tourism destinations is the high standard of healthcare with affordable costs. Due to the price regulations and laws put in place by Dubai Health Authority, healthcare institutions in Dubai are directed to maintain reasonable prices. While medical treatment cannot be said to be cheap, it can be gotten at a lower and more reasonable cost in comparison to places like the United States of America and the United Kingdom. This makes it the perfect destination for travelers who do not have insurance coverage for treatments like skin care, dental treatments, and orthopedics.
{{4) No Language Barrier}}
Dubai is arguably one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan cities in the world with almost 200 different nationalities residing in the United Arab Emirates and 80% of the population being emigrants. With the diverse population, there is a host of medical professionals who are well versed in the language of their home country and this helps in erasing the language barrier amongst international travelers looking for medical treatment.
English is most widely used for communication in Dubai and most locals are bilingual, thus creating no communication problem. In situations where communication is a problem, international visitors can hire translators and interpreters who can assist them during their medical tourism.
{{5) State-of-the-art Art Medical Facilities}}
The lack of medical facilities is one of the major reasons people embark on medical tourism. International travelers who are unable to undergo treatments in their home country are irresistibly attracted to Dubai for its innovative facilities. The city has invested heavily in its healthcare system, including the procurement of high-end medical equipment.
Dubai offers world-class healthcare facilities equipped with cutting-edge technology like 3D printing technology for dental treatments and other reconstructive surgeries, wireless brain sensors, and CRISPR. The medical facilities are designed to ensure that medical procedures and recuperative needs are effectively carried out for patients. Dubai introduced the use of medical drones for transporting packets of blood to the hardly accessible villages of Rwanda in 2016.
{{6) Qualified Medical Professionals}}
Dubai’s healthcare system is home to well-trained and qualified medical experts who acquired training from the top universities around the world. The medical experts have immense knowledge in their respective fields which complements the healthcare facilities put in place.
In Dubai, a medical body oversees and ensures that only highly-trained medical practitioners are licensed to practice medicine. The medical staff display professionalism and are very efficient in carrying out their respective duties. Moreover, they are available 24 hours a day for providing quick and effective medical attention to patients.
{{7) Introduction of the Medical Tourism Portal}}
Government initiatives are inarguably one of the driving factors for the development of Medical Tourism in Dubai. Dubai Health Experience (DXH) portal was launched by the government back in the year 2016, to provide tourists with the best medical tourism services. Through the portal, international travelers can receive information on accredited healthcare providers, book medical appointments, receive medical insurance, accommodation reservation, get information regarding visas, and book transportation amongst other services.
