Category: Op Ed

A special feature section for guest columnists

Time To Put Back Teenage Pregnancy, Abortion On The Political Agenda

Healthtimes

By Edinah Masiyiwa As we commemorate both the International Safe Abortion Day on the 28th  September and World Contraception Day on the 26th of September, we should be sure to focus on the problem of early unintended pregnancies among girls ages 10 to 14 years. A few weeks ago, news of these early pregnancies was featured in different media of Zimbabwe thanks to a new survey conducted on the topic which revealed that the adolescent 10 to 19 years pregnancy rate is at 23%.. A United Nations Populations Fund  report…

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The Role of Medical Professional Societies in Informing Communities on Maternal Health, Post-Abortion Care, and Abortion Laws Reform in Zimbabwe

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By Memory Pamella Kadau Maternal health, post-abortion care (PAC), and abortion laws reform are critical issues that require comprehensive and accurate information dissemination to communities. In Zimbabwe, medical professional societies are crucial in informing and educating the public about these topics. In 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) introduced new guidelines on abortion to help countries deliver lifesaving care. This article explores the significant role of medical professional associations in Zimbabwe in promoting maternal health, providing post-abortion care, and advocating for abortion laws reform.  Further, it proposes how medical professional…

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Open letter to His Excellency Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the President for the Republic of Zimbabwe on his re-election in September 2023

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Now that the elections are over, the people of Zimbabwe expect the fulfilment of the election manifesto, in which you promised massive improvement in health infrastructure; more health personnel; accessible and affordable medicines; free medical care for cancer patients; at least one hospital per district, improved health services in resettlement areas, reduction of hospital fees by 50% and pursuing theHealth for All policy, among others. We were over the moon when you made very promising pronouncements which include the National Development Strategy, (NDS1) which aimed to make the country an…

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Young women at high risk of STIs in Zimbabwe – Study

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By Paul Sixpence ONE in four young women in Zimbabwe is likely to be infected with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) – with odds higher in young women living with HIV, the STICH study has revealed. The STICH study was conducted in Bulawayo and Harare by the Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI). Close to 10 000 youth between the ages of 16 and 24 years were enrolled into the study with over 8 500 (86%) accepting testing for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis. The STICH study was nested within CHIEDZA/UKUKHANYA…

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How Climate Change is Fueling a Mental Health Crisis in Urban Zimbabwe

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By Taurai Nyandoro If there are any global issues that have garnered and evoked increased attention in the past few years, it has to be climate change and mental health. A growing body of evidence points to the connection between climate change and mental health. In fact, there is a link between climate change and mental disorders, including fear, anxiety, stress, insomnia, depression, lost self-efficacy, mood disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Urban residents in Zimbabwe are not immune to the impacts of droughts, floods, and heatwaves. Unsurprisingly, these changes…

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The Treble Tragedy in Women’s Health: Unmet Need for FP – Unwanted Pregnancy – Unsafe Abortion

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Dr Munyaradzi Murwira Introduction Women and girls in developing countries face multiple challenges in accessing affordable, quality and comprehensive sexual reproductive health and rights (SRH&R) services. This article explores three key issues that affect women and girls sexual reproductive health outcomes, morbidity and mortality. The “Treble Tragedy” in women’s health, particularly in the developing world are – Unmet Need for Family Planning – Unwanted Pregnancy – Unsafe Abortion. The Primary Health Care (PHC) concept coupled with the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) approach are opportunities to ensure universal access to SRH&R…

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The curious case of Cement Dust Pollution in Mabvuku: The healthcare cost and who is paying for it

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By Dr Nyasha Manyeruke WHOSE fault is it? Compensation and reparations? The debate on healthcare and industrial, and air pollution is a global quagmire. Is the industrial industry at fault when it is concurrently spearheading economic growth and job creation? Are the people who continue to live in polluted air partly to blame for their own health circumstances. Clearly these questions have no binary answers (yes or no) because the problem itself is not binary. Studies have linked cement dust toxins to not only lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive…

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Private Health Insurance (Medical Aid) and Huge Shortfalls in Zimbabwe: Policymakers playing ducks and drakes

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By: Enock Musungwini, MPH, MBA Introduction A shortfall is the difference between what a health service provider charges for a patient’s treatment and what the medical insurance company will pay for that service. Shortfalls are sometimes presented as a co-payment, which is the gap between what the Private Health Insurance (PHI) company or medical aid pays to the health service provider for service rendered to the patient and what the health service provider will have charged the patient, known as a tariff. According to Suriyawongpaisal et al. (2016), huge shortfalls…

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Reviewing the impact of the legal lacuna in Zimbabwe’s abortion law

Healthtimes

By Memory Pamella Kadau Zimbabwe has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) of 2019, Zimbabwe has a maternal mortality ratio of 462 deaths per 100,000 live births and a neonatal mortality rate of 32 deaths per 1000 live births. While this is an improvement from the 614/100 000 live births for maternal deaths recorded in 2014, the slow rate of progress indicates that Zimbabwe is unlikely to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for reducing maternal mortality.…

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As World Population Reaches 8 Billion, It’s Time To Look Beyond The Numbers

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In a statement World Population Day United Nations for the recent World Population Day, the UN General Secretary expressed that while the world will reach the 8 billion population mark this year, it is important to not focus on the numerical figure but on the actual people. By Edinah Masiyiwa The State of World Population 2023 report, published by the United Nations Population Fund, calls for reframing narratives surrounding population growth, urging leaders to consider women’s rights and the ability to freely make reproductive choices. This report further highlights that the…

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