Category: SRHR

WAG Uses The Safe-Engage Tool To Sensitize Nurses On Termination Of Pregnancy Act

Michael Gwarisa
WAG Executive Director Mrs Edinah Masiyiwa addresses the Zim Nurses Association at the sensitisation meeting

THE Women’s Action Group of Zimbabwe (WAG) is making use of the SAFE ENGAGE (Strengthening Evidence Based Policy to Expand Access to Safe Abortion) media tool to communicate the country’s illegal abortion scenario to various key stakeholders in a bid to raise awareness on Zimbabwe’s abortion situation as well as familiarize communities with the country’s Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP). By Michael Gwarisa Amongst some of the groups that have benefited from WAG’s sensitization programs are Senators, Parliamentarians, traditional leaders, midwives and recently nurses. Speaking during a half day SAFE…

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Child Marriages and Teen Pregnancies: Twin Evils Widening Opportunities Gap Between Boys and Girls in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa
Mashonaland Central Provincial Nursing Officer in the MoHCC, Anna Chinyemba

GROWING incidences of early marriages and Early Unintended Pregnancies (EUPs) that have also been exacerbated by the prevailing COVID-19 health emergency, have thrown girls and young women in an abyss of poverty, further making them vulnerable to various forms of abuse, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has warned. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Bindura According to statistics, there have been increased cases of teenage pregnancies during the COVID-19 induced lockdown period in Zimbabwe owing to a myriad of factors chief among them being the alarming rates of…

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#BREAKING: Three Rape Cases A Day In Mash Central, Family And Close Relatives Major Perpetrators

Michael Gwarisa
Sup Tungadza

MASHONALAND Central province has been recording  alarming rates of rape cases of minor girls and young women, amidst indications that the whole province has been registering not less than three rape cases on a daily basis for the past 12 months. By Michael Gwarisa in Bindura The increase in rape cases has largely been attributed to the COVID-19 induced lockdown as minor girls and young women were locked indoors with abusers who are either their close relatives and or their neighbors. Briefing an International Women’s Day commemorations event in Bindura…

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When Period Poverty Meets Water Crises: Harare Women and Girls Develop Vaginal Infections As They Go For Hours Wearing Damp Unwashed Reusable Sanitary Pads And Rags

Michael Gwarisa

SHARON Bumhira (26) from Hopley, Zone 3 is unemployed and every month, whenever her period visits, she finds it difficult to manage her menstrual hygiene as she can’t afford to buy sanitary pads. Like many girls in the area, Sharon uses rags and at times a reusable sanitary pad. By Michael Gwarisa For most girls and young women in Hopely, buying sanitary pads is a luxury they can’t even afford and a bucket of water is more important than buying a sanitary pad. The water situation in Hopely has made…

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DZT Concerned Over Insensitive Reportage Of Disability Issues In The Media

Healthtimes

THE Deaf Zimbabwe Trust (DZT) says it is concerned with the lack of appreciation by Journalists as well as the  under-reportage of issues effecting People With Disabilities (PWDs) especially issues to do with their Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). By Patricia Mashiri Speaking at a Disability Management Training for SRHR programme Implementers, Tinotenda Chikunya, the DZT Communications Officer challenged the media to raise awareness on SRHR issues in a disability inclusive way as well as play its part in disability friendly information dissemination. The media can be a vital…

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Zimbabwe’s First Ever Safe Market To Protect Women and Children Against Abuse Ready To Open

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE’S Ministry of Women Affairs Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development and its partners have set up a sample safe market in Harare, Epworth Overspill area in a bid to reduce incidences of abuse, Gender and Sexual Based violence (SGBV) amongst women and children by providing women with a safe operating environment. By Michael Gwarisa The markets are part of Women affairs ministry’s Safe Cities program. According to studies conducted, a number of SGBV cases as well as abuse of children occur in unregulated public spaces such as market spaces.…

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Time To Challenge Gender Bias and Inequalities

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development has called on women rights advocate groups to push for active participation and involvement of more women in key decision-making positions to ensure inequalities associated with gender are addressed. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at the Harare Spotlight Initiative consortium’s commemorations of the Women’s Day celebrations, Harare Metropolitan Provincial Development Officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Mr Ernest Chimboza said it was high time women claim their rightful position at the top table.…

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Government of China invests $1,24 million for the health of women and girls in Cyclone Idai affected districts of Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

THE Government of China and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated  reproductive health medical equipment and medicines as part of the US$1,24 million support to the Government of Zimbabwe‘s Health Assistance Project for Women and Girls in Zimbabwe Affected by Tropical Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts. The objective of the health assistance project is to enable the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) to strengthen emergency obstetric and neonatal care in the cyclone affected areas in Zimbabwe. This is in turn expected to contribute to the…

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Zim’s Termination Of Pregnancy Act Anti Women- Women CSOs

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S Termination of Pregnancy ACT is not only archaic but takes away women’s body autonomy and power to make decisions about their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), women led Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have said. By Patricia Mashiri According CSOs, the country’s Termination of Pregnancy ACT is not inclusive but dictates circumstances and conditions under which the pregnancy of a woman may be terminated. Ms Ednah Masiyiwa, Executive Director Women Action Group said the Termination of pregnancy Act is non-operational and does not meet the needs of the…

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Zim Rape Law Not Protecting Minors Against Sexual Predators

Michael Gwarisa

CIVIL Society Organizations have come out guns blazing against High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi who recently granted a 26-year-old sex worker Precious Teya bail after ruling that the 13-year-old boy whom she had engaged in transactional sex with was actually a willing participant. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes, Padare/Ekundleni Men’s Forum Programs Officer Jonathan Memory said the   law should be applied without any prejudice and both the girl and boy child should be treated equally at law. There are issues that are there with this bail…

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