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ZimDiaspora.com Tsvangirai Pays Tribute to Senior Nurses at Christmas party in their honour
Landmark Education blog on the Senior nurses Christmas Party – Christina King’s SELP project
NewZimbabwe.com on Senior nurses in Christmas honour
BBC World Service attends Senior Nurses Christmas Ball in Harare Choose podcast for the 18th Dec. Ist there is the story of the death sentence, then comes ours. Here Steve Vickers, interviews one of the nurses at the party
The Zimbabwe Telegraph announces the Senior Nurses Party being held in Harare
ZimbabweSituation.org reports on the Senior Nurses Christmas party
Charity-charities.org reporting on the Senior Nurses Christmas party
SWRadioAfrica.com talks to Everjoyce King about the upcoming Senior Nurses event. Listen to the archive for 14/12/09 at Callback 6:-6:30PM
NursesRole.com reports on the Senior Nurses Christmas Party
Malyam Matsinde talks to ZBC FM radio 1

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Tsvangirai Pays Tribute to Senior Nurses at Christmas party in their honour
17/12/2009 ZimDiaspora.com

The United Kingdom based charity organization, United Youth for Action broke new grounds in Harare today when they successfully organised a colourful Christmas luncheon for older nurses working in Zimbabwe’s ailing health delivery system.

The luncheon attended by The Zim Diaspora was held at Monomotapa Hotel in Harare and attracted more than 250 nurses from across Zimbabwe. The event was graced by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who was the guest of honor.

The luncheon was meant to ‘honour and thank’ Zimbabwe’s older nurses over 60 years some of whom have come back from retirement. Other older nurses continued working in hospitals pass their retirement age owing to staffing crisis in the country as most young Zimbabwean professionals have left the country for greener pastures.
The nurses were treated to a three course lunch at the up-market Monomotapa hotel in Central Harare. The oldest member of the group was awarded a hamper donated by the hotel. The hamper included bed and breakfast for two at the said hotel.

Speaking Mr Tsvangirai said he was humbled by the nurses’ love and commitment to save lives.

“Nurses are the light of life, without them many of us would not have reached forty. I am greatly humbled by the amount of love and commitment you have shown to the people of Zimbabwe at a crucial time.” He said.

The Prime Minister went on to highlight how the nurses heeded government’s call of help without delay. He said their positive response averted a serious health catastrophe following a crippling brain drain that has hit the country in the last few years.

“You came back from retirement to serve your country again. You heeded government’s call fro help. We were facing a crippling brain drain as younger nurses and health personnel went for greener pastures. Your coming back averted a potentially catastrophic health situation. We greatly appreciate your services. Without you it would not have been possible.” The prime minister said.

Speaking at the same occasion, the Registrar of Nurses Council of Zimbabwe, Mrs Clara Nondo implored the inclusive government for taking a leaf from the organizers of the luncheon. She admitted that such a noble cause was greatly appreciated and made the nurses involved proud and worthwhile.

“We are greatly honoured today. This is a first in the whole history of nursing in Zimbabwe. We want to extend our deepest gratitudes to the local organizers of the event, Mrs Malyam Matsinde, Joy Kambarami and Mr Gibson Nyambayo. Above all, we thank and give honour to Ms Everjoyce King the brains behind all this” she said.

The Director of Nursing Services in the Ministry of Health Mrs Chasokela who provided the name list of senior nurses to the organizers was also present at the luncheon. She thanked all the senior nurses for a job well done.

She also urged the inclusive government to join hands with private partners in organizing future events for nurses.

“I implore the government to come on board and partner the organizers of this event so that it becomes an annual event. I would like to thank the organizers for a job well done” she said.

The older nurses who were also given an opportunity to address the gathering said they were pleased for being honoured to be recognized for thei dedication and committment to saving lives in their country.

Mrs Mildred Chirisa (75) who currently works in Chitungwiza satellite town told The Zim Diaspora that she started working as a nurse in 1957. She retired in 1999 after serving for 52 years. She came back in service again in 2003 up to today.

Mrs Chirisa said “This event is historic. Everywhere, even in neighbouring countries like Zambia. South Africa and Mozambique where I worked during my career, nothing like this happened. I thank God for this. It is wonderful. I thank the organizers. I hope and pray the event will be held annually until forever”.
Obadiah Katiyo who first worked as a nurse in 1966 in Zvimba area of Mashonaland West province said: “Recognition has finally come to us. By this event I feel honored and recognized for my efforts. A heartfelt thank you is more than money. Truly I will save lives until I can not walk. Please may the organizers carry on such a noble cause”.

Speaking to The Zimdiaspora after the event, the chief organizer of the event Mrs. Malyam Matsinde thanked individuals and cooperates who donated to the cause and made the noble event a success.

“ We would like to thank companies and individuals who selflessly donated in cash and kind to the cause. We however would like to appeal to more corporate sand individuals to come on board in the next event. We feel honored by the presence of these senior nursing personnel” she said.

Zimbabwe’s health system suffered a hemorrhagic brain drain over the issues precipitated by a crippled economy, worsening conditions of service and political persecution by the Mugabe led government. As a result of the brain drain the government had to recall retired nurses back to service. This averted a potential health disaster.

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Zimbabwe Senior Nurses Christmas Party
14/12/2009 NewZimbabwe.com

AFTER hundreds of nurses abandoned Zimbabwe’s health system over the last decade, stories of heroism are emerging.

The government’s SOS was answered by 300 senior nurses who came out of retirement to avert total collapse – and a group of Zimbabweans are coming together to honour them.

The nurses, all aged 60 years and over, will receive hampers at a special Christmas party hosted in their honour at a Harare hotel on Thursday, December 17.

Health Minister Henry Madzorera will officiate at the event organised by the UK-based Zimbabwean charity, United Action Youth.

Everjoyce King, one of the organisers, said she was “greatly touched” after her sister delivered a baby at a Harare hospital with the help of senior nurses last year.

She said: “I found that they were always cheerful, they were so keen to help new mothers and make sure they knew what they were doing with the children.

“They were just hopeful people, who just got on with their jobs without moaning – yet I knew they were working in an extremely difficult environment, their salaries barely enough to get them to work for a week.

“But they still managed to go to work, and they never call in sick. They are just an amazing group of people and I said then I would organise something to show our appreciation for them, and we need Zimbabweans at home and around the world to come on board and give our senior nurses a big thank you.”

King teamed with her sister, Malyam Matsinde, who chairs the event’s organising committee in Harare, and they have been raising funds to stage the event.

“The ministry of health gave us a list of the senior nurses from around the country and we must pay their transport costs, overnight accommodation and buy everyone of them the US$20 hamper. We hope to make this an annual event,” King said.

In a video released by the organisers, a senior nurse at the Mt Pleasant Poly Clinic, Avis Marilyn Mukome, said: “It means so much to me just to hear somebody say ‘thank you’. It makes me happy right from the inside of my heart.”

King added: “We can’t give them a pay rise, but we can thank them. Our senior nurses have been a true example of ultimate service to the people. They have been a linchpin to Zimbabwe’s public health system, continuing in their jobs of caring for the sick at a time when most of us would have chosen to give up.

“Their commitment and dedication humbles us. This Christmas party in their honour is the least we felt we could do to acknowledge and appreciate them for who they are – an outstanding contribution to society.”
Some of the nursing heroes being honoured:

Name: Martha Lucas Hodzi
Age: 67
Profession: General Nurse
Places worked: Ndanga Hospital, Masvingo (10 years), then Poly clinics all around Harare (35 years)
Years of Service: Since 1963 (46 years)
When retired: Aug 2007
Returned to nursing: May 2008
Why nursing: Just to help the sick

Name: Christine Thawe
Age: 66
Profession: Midwife at City Health – Highfield. Also covered most Poly Clinics in Harare
Years of Service: Since 1974 (35 years)
When retired: June 2008
Returned to nursing: June 2009
Why nursing: If I am still strong, I’d rather help people

Name: Avis Marilyn Mukome
Age: 64
Family: 7 children, 6 grandchildren, married for 38 years
Profession: Midwife at Harare Hospital, Edith Opperman Maternity Hospital and Harare Poly Clinics
Years of Service: Since 1968 (41 years)
Why nursing: To help the sick especially poor people they are the ones who use the clinic Name:

Pauline Sharai Massundah
Age: 67
Family: 2 children, 3 grandchildren, married for 41 years
Profession: Midwife at Gweru General Hospital 9yrs, City council 33
Number of Service: Since 1968 (41 years)
When retired: Jul 2007
Returned to nursing: Aug 2007
Why nursing: To help sick people. It was really not about the money. I just thank God to have survived to this day

EVERJOYCE KING ON HONOURING SENIOR NURSES

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
MAKE A DONATION: http://www.justgiving.com/ZimSeniorNursesChristmasParty

LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR NURSING HEROES: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=167314256605

CALL EVERJOYCE on 07852278010 or Linda 07903882242 to donate prizes for a raffle draw
HIV Vaccine Breakthrough
Thursday 24/09/2009

A major breakthrough in the battle to find a vaccine for HIV/Aids was announced today after a comprehensive testing programme in Thailand found an experimental drug had cut the risk of infection by 31 per cent.

The tests on 16,000 Thai volunteers provided the first measurable effect in preventing the transmission of the HIV/Aids virus and could provide new momentum to an area of research many scientists considered a dead end.

The Financial Times reported that the tests sponsored by the U.S Army with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases could be the first evidence that a preventative vaccine could be on the way.

Doctors said that an actual vaccine was still some way away but the tests provided a valuable “proof of concept”.

The drug was developed by pharmaceutical companies Sanofi-Adventis and VaxGen, and comes in two parts: a modified canarypox virus – known as Alvac – that had been genetically manipulated to carry synthetic versions of three HIV genes to prime the immune system, followed by a booster known as AidsVAX B/E, a formulation which had previously been tested on its own without showing any benefit for the patients.

“The combination is stronger than each of the individual members,” said a U.S army spokesperson.

The controversial tests enlisted the discredited AidsVAX vaccine, which had been called “spectacularly unsuccessful”.

The search for an HIV/Aids vaccine has been ongoing for 25 years but all previous large-scale tests have shown no significant benefits.

The blind tests were run on young Thais with average chances of infection. Of the 8,197 given the drugs, 51 became infected, compared to 74 of the 8,197 who were given placebos as a control group, said the FT.

New HIV Antibodies Discovery that may lead to groundbreaking development of AIDS Vaccine
04/09/2009

Researchers in America have made a discovery that can prove a real breakthrough in the development of an HIV vaccine. They made this discovery by examining blood samples given by infected people in HIV-prone countries, where they found two new powerful antibodies to HIV that can pave the way to a new and effective AIDS vaccine. The antibodies, called PG9 and PG16, are of a type known as bNAbs (broadly neutralizing antibodies) and exploit an “Achilles heel” or vulnerable spot in the HIV that could be an effective target for a vaccine, said the researchers.

Please click on this link to read more

Zimbabwean Health Experts Skeptical Of Study Finding Drop In HIV Infection Rate
(24/08/2009 – article written by Sandra Nyaira for www.medicalnewstoday.com)

Zimbabwean health experts have raised doubts over a recent study that suggested “the country’s deep economic crisis helped reduce the HIV prevalence rate or the percentage of adults infected with the deadly virus,” VOA News reports. The study of more than 18,000 pregnant women, presented at the 5th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, revealed the HIV prevalence rate fell from 23 percent in 2001 to 11 percent in late 2008. However, as VOA News writes, some Zimbabweans feel the findings “understate the severity of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, adding that the sample may not have been representative” of the population (Nyaira, 8/24).