Category: MARTERNAL HEALTH

Women Should Breastfeed At Work- Minister

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa WORKING environments should be conducive enough to allow women to breastfeed during working hours, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has said. He said this while officially opening the 2017 World Breast Feeding Week in Highfields today (3 August 2017). “When children are breast fed, they get sick less often. Employers benefit from having a more contended and productive workforce due to less employee absenteeism, increased loyalty and less staff turnover. Parental protection and other workplace policies can enable women to combine breastfeeding with paid…

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Lack Of Investment Hampering Breast Feeding Efforts

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New analysis shows an investment of US$4.70 per newborn could generate US$300 billion in economic gains by 2025 GENEVA/NEW YORK, 1 August 2017 – No country in the world fully meets recommended standards for breastfeeding, according to a new report by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Global Breastfeeding Collective, a new initiative to increase global breastfeeding rates. The Global Breastfeeding Scorecard, which evaluated 194 nations, found that only 40 per cent of children younger than six months are breastfed exclusively (given nothing but breast…

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Zim Beats Global Family Planning Target

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By Kudakwashe Pembere Zimbabwe has achieved the FP 2020 goal of increasing contraceptive prevalence rate three years beforehand. In 2012, the Zimbabwean government at the London FP2020 summit vowed to up access to quality modern contraceptives to couples, women and girls by 2020. To fulfil this pledge precociously alongside putting into effect the National Family Planning Strategy, government consulting several stakeholders in the health sector such as UNFPA, developed the National FP Costed Implementation Plan 2016-2020. Speaking on behalf of Health and Child Care minister DR David Parirenyatwa, the ministry’s…

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World Population Day 2017: 4 Reasons Why Family Planning Is Important

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Family Planning is not just a part of curbing growing population but also has positive impact at individual level. This World Population Day, read on to know about the advantages of planning your family wisely. World Population Day is observed on 11 July every year to reaffirm the human right to plan a family. It encourages activities to create awareness about the importance of family planning throughout the world. This day also tries to spread knowledge about other important issues including gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights. According…

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Iron Deficiency Common In Zim Toddlers and Pregnant Woman

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By Michael Gwarisa LACK of proper nutrients in foods consumed in Zimbabwe has led to a surge in iron deficiency and anemia cases amongst toddlers and pregnant woman, a ministry of health official has said. Presenting during a Communication for Development discussion on the implementation of the National Nutrition Communication Strategy organised by UNICEF today, Nutritionist in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dexter Chagwena said cases of malnutrition in toddlers and pregnant women were high in Zimbabwe hence the need for food fortification. “Food fortification involves including minute levels…

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UNFPA Donates Reproductive Health Kits To Flood Victims

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By Staff Reporter UNITED Nations Family Population Fund (UNFPA) has handed over reproductive health and dignity kits valued at US$189 000 to women and girls affected by Cyclone Dineo in Tsholotsho, Muzarabani and Mbire districts. Some parts of the country were affected by floods which came as a result of high rainfall and the situation was further worsened by the tropical Cyclone Dineo in March this year forcing government to appeal for assistance from development partners.   Addressing delegates at the official handover ceremony of the kits, UNFPA Assistant Representative…

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Traditional Leaders Driving Primary Health Care

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By Michael Gwarisa recently in Mapanzure TRADITIONAL leaders have always been key figures in the upholding of societal standards and effecting laws that guide and protect citizens since time immemorial. Under the African setup, traditional leaders in this case, chiefs, village headmen, district officers, Councillors among others play a pivotal role in determining the fate of their people. In Zimbabwe, traditional leaders hold key functions even at top political levels as the constitution of Zimbabwe recognises the role of traditional chiefs and leaders. It is through their influence that traditional…

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Zim Doctors Call For Abortion Legalisation

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Staff Reporter THE Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights (ZDHR) has called for the repealing of the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1997 which barres women from engaging in wilful termination of pregnancy outside prescribed circumstances. According to the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1997 [Chapter 15:10], no woman is allowed to terminate pregnancy willingly unless under scenarios such as rape, incest and medical complications. In a statement, ZDHR said the ACT was doing more harm than good to the majority of young women who are losing lives in the process…

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Home Birth Delivery Cases Drop

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By Michael Gwarisa recently in Guruve  THE number of home deliveries by pregnant mothers has largely dropped over the past few years owing to the extensive roll out of Health Centre Committees (HCCs) around the country. The initiative which is being spearheaded by Save the Children Zimbabwe in collaboration with its funding partners DFID and EC through a program dubbed “Strengthening Community Participation In Health,” has seen at least 21 districts around the country’s 10 provinces benefiting as witnessed by the massive increase in community members participation in primary health…

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Call To Subsidise Primary Health Care

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By Michael Gwarisa DELEGATES to the Primary Health Care Budget Advocacy Meeting have called for the subsidising of primary health care services, fees in particular at both community and national health care  centers in a bid to reduce the high mortality rate in both infants and adults. Presenting during a workshop organised by Save the Children Zimbabwe, Training and Research Support Center (TARSC) Programs manager Artwell Kadungure said high fees were among the biggest challenges towards accessing primary health care. He indicated that some of the challenges to Primary health care access…

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