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Herald Reporter

Acting President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has described the late Vice Chairperson of the Natural Therapist Council (NTCZ) Dr Nyarai Paweni as a patriotic medical professional who assisted many of her patients to wellness and good health.

Dr Paweni — a naturopathic doctor — died on January 11 in Harare after a short illness.

She graduated from the National University of Natural Health Sciences in Chicago, lllinois, US in 2015 in the field of Naturopathic Medicine and founded her health practice, Sage Restorative Health in 2017.

“As a patriotic medical professional, she returned to Zimbabwe in recent years to continue her Sage Restorative Health practice in Harare where she assisted many of her patients to wellness and good health,” said Acting President Chiwenga.

“She co-founded WIRED 2 Love & Thrive, a mental health programme which facilitated authentic, relevant and non-judgmental on and off-line interactions that promote mental, spiritual and emotional well-being with an African sensitivity.

“The programme helped to raise awareness and reduced the stigma around mental health issues and ensured that resources and information are grounded in Afrocentricity for Africans on the continent and in the diaspora. In 2020, she was a key player in resurrecting Part VI of the Health Professions Act in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to re-establish the Natural Therapists Council of Zimbabwe (NTCZ) where she was the Vice Chairperson until her untimely passing.”

In 2022, Dr. Paweni graduated in the field of Acupuncture through training programmes facilitated by the Chinese and Zimbabwean Governments at the newly established Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Unit at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.

“She was involved with numerous community outreach programmes and was a well-respected and trusted physician touching many peoples’ lives across the country and the globe. Her dedication to natural health practices and her patients was significant.

“She will be sorely missed by her family, friends, colleagues, patients, the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the nation at large.

“May I, on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the entire nation, my family and on my own behalf, extend my deepest condolences to the Natural Therapists Council of Zimbabwe and the Paweni family for the untimely passing on of Dr. Paweni.

“May the soul of Dr Nyarai Paweni’s dear soul rest in eternal peace,” said Acting President Chiwenga.