Category: SRHR

International Women’s Day: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world Message from the Zimbabwe Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls 8 March 2020

Healthtimes

THE COVID-19 pandemic has cast a dim light on the progress made in achieving gender equality by 2030 in Zimbabwe as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A little over one year since the pandemic struck, a myriad of studies and surveys have reported  exacerbation of gender inequalities as women and girls continue to bear the brunt of unpaid labour, while being disproportionately at risk of violence compared to their male counterparts.  The pandemic is indeed not only a health crisis but also a social one. The COVID-19…

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Her Voice Fund Projects Make Inroads Despite COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

AT least six organizations that received small grants from the Her Voice Fund successfully implemented a number Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and capacity building initiatives in communities they were operating in despite the restrictions on movement and travel that characterised the year 2020 at the back of a raging COVID-19 pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa The HER Voice Fund grant was allocated by the Global Fund and set aside to support meaningful community engagements and leadership of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in a bid help reduce new HIV infections…

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A Thigh For For A Bucket: Sexual Abuse Reigns Supreme At Boreholes and Waterpoints In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE absence of adequate water and sanitation facilities provides a fertile breeding ground for Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). In both rural and urban settings in Zimbabwe, girls and women travel long distances to fetch water and, in some instances where ablution facilities are not available, they relieve themselves in the bush, further making girls and young women targets of abuse. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of 2019, a sizable number of households in Zimbabwe still lack sufficient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities…

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Long Distance Exposes Bikita School Girls To Sugar Daddies And Unintended Pregnancies

Michael Gwarisa

HAZEL Tarungamiswa (17), a form 3 student at Rupare High School in Bikita walks 18 Kilometers to and from her village every day to attend school. By Michael Gwarisa in Bikita Every morning, she has to clean the plates and sweep the yard amongst other household chores before leaving for school. This has however resulted in her arriving late at school some days. To avoid getting late at school and getting caned for doings so, most girls end up catching free rides from strangers, in the process exposing themselves to…

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“Let’s Not Address Health Issues In Silos During Lockdown”

Michael Gwarisa

THE National AIDS Council (NAC) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Benard Madzima says the new level four lockdown presents an opportunity for Zimbabwe to correct the mistakes of the first lockdown which saw a sizable number of people struggling to access essential healthcare services. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Madzima said even though HIV  is still a burden on the country’s health sector, it was critical to prioritise other issues such as Gender Based Violence (GBV), maternal health, access to contraceptives, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR),…

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Enhancing Gender Equality and SRH Appreciation Amongst Boys Through The Brotha2Brotha Program

Michael Gwarisa

OVER the years, wide spread research has shown that working with, men and boys as well as women and girls leads to gender equality and contributes significantly to achieving health and development goals. By Michael Gwarisa According to evidence gathered by the United Population Fund (UNFPA), it has been proven that working towards gender equality by empowering women and engaging men  is fundamental to achieving a host of development outcomes, including reducing poverty, improving health and addressing other population concerns. Men’s and boys’ relationships with women and girls can support…

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Higherlife Foundation Donates Maternal Health Equipment To Seven Zim Hospitals

Healthtimes

THE Higherlife Foundation,  through a generous investment from ELMA Philanthropies has commenced the handover and distribution of maternal health medical equipment to seven hospital in Zimbabwe. Staff Reporter According to Higherlife Foundation, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the provision of essential maternal and neonatal health services and severely eroded the steady gains that Zimbabwe had made in improving mortality rates. Over the next year, without intervention, maternal and neonatal mortality rates could increase by 48% and 30% respectively. When we heard about the state of our maternity wards, we knew…

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Power Imbalances Continue To Drive Women Into Gender-Based Violence

Michael Gwarisa

RESEARCH and reports show that about 94% of gender based violence cases reported between March to October 2020 were against women amidst indications that men still believe in gender norms and traditional harmful practices which usually lead into violation of women’s rights. By Paticia Mashiri There are mainly four forms of gender-based violence which include economic, sexual, physical and emotional abuse while poverty has been identified as a leading cause of GBV. Speaking at a GBV round table dialogue with women in the informal sector which was hosted by Women’s…

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Zimbabwe Sets-Up National Task force To Monitor ICPD@25 Commitments

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE has commenced the process of setting up a National Task-force (NTF) for monitoring the implementation of commitments the country made at the 25th International Conference on Population Development (ICPD@25) that was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2019. By Michael Gwarisa Through support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Partners in Population Development (PPD) have selected Zimbabwe and nine other countries namely Bangladesh, Morocco, Thailand, Nigeria, South Africa, Indonesia, India, Benin, and Uganda to take further initiatives to continued national consultations through National Task Forces (NTF) for South…

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Communities and Midwives Should Collaborate To Reduce Unintended Pregnancies and Unsafe Abortions – Dr Magure

Michael Gwarisa
Dr Tsitsi Magure

PARIRENYATWA Group of Hospitals Clinical Director, Dr Tsitsi Magure has called for increased partnership between women pressure groups, communities and midwives amidst indications of increased admissions of young teenage girls into health facilities as a result of teenage pregnancies and post labor or abortion related complications. By Michael Gwarisa The call also comes at a time the country is debating the adoption of the Age of Consent which seeks to reduce age restrictions towards accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (SRH) including contraceptives to 12 years, inorder to reduce Early…

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