Category: REPRODUCTIVE

Zimbabwe Legislator to Move Motion in Parliament to Make DNA Testing Mandatory at Birth

Michael Gwarisa
Honourable Bridget Nyandoro addressing a GBV symposium in Harare where she announced plans to push for mandatory DNA testing at birth in Parliament

By Michael Gwarisa As calls for mandatory DNA testing grow louder, Southerton Constituency Legislator Honourable Bridget Nyandoro has indicated she will soon move a motion in Parliament to make DNA testing compulsory for all children at birth. Her proposal comes amid rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide linked to paternity disputes, as more cases of negative paternity results continue to surface. Speaking during an Action Indaba on GBV symposium in Harare, Hon. Nyandoro said, “I am going to move a motion in Parliament to have mandatory DNA testing…

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Bedroom Revolution? Condoms That Delay Ejaculation Hit Zim Market

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Zimbabweans are seeing a shift in sexual wellness products as new condoms designed to enhance pleasure and prolong intimacy enter the market. While condoms have traditionally been promoted for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, the latest options reflect changing consumer expectations and a growing interest in sexual wellbeing. “By introducing TRUST and LOVERS+ brands, PSH is expanding the range of options available to Zimbabweans, potentially increasing condom use and reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies,” said Kumbirai Chatora, the Population Solutions…

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#BREAKING: Zimbabwe to Roll Out Revolutionary Contraceptive Ring for Women

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has launched the Contraceptive Acceptability Research (CARE), a pioneering study that will assess the acceptability, feasibility, and uptake of the Annovera contraceptive ring among women and adolescent girls in the country. The study, introduced this week, marks a significant step towards enhancing access to a wider range of contraceptive options, aligning with both national and global goals to empower women and girls to take greater control of their sexual and reproductive health. The Annovera ring is a user-controlled, long-acting, and reversible contraceptive method. Designed for use…

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CWGH Welcomes Appointment of Maternal & Perinatal Death Review Committee

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has welcomed the appointment of the 2025–2028 Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) National Steering Committee by the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora. The newly appointed committee is expected to play a crucial role in reviewing maternal and perinatal deaths and recommending urgent national actions to reduce preventable fatalities. The MPDSR Committee, first established in 2015, is tasked with identifying key trends and systemic weaknesses contributing to maternal and newborn deaths, and offering strategic…

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A 75-Seater Bus of Newborns Crashes Every 12 Hours in Zimbabwe. We Must Hit the Brakes

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Every twelve hours in Zimbabwe, an unimaginable tragedy unfolds. A fully loaded 75-seater bus carrying newborn babies crashes, leaving no survivors. The nation would demand answers, declare emergencies, and mobilize every resource to prevent another disaster. Yet this exact horror plays out in silence daily. According to the 2023-24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, 18,500 newborns die each year before reaching 28 days of life. This translates to a neonatal mortality rate of 37 deaths per 1,000 live births. When we include stillbirths and deaths in the…

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Obstetric Fistula: The Silent Struggle of Zimbabwean Women

Michael Gwarisa
https://staging11.atomistic.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Sandra-Mugowo.jpg

By Alfa Bothwell Gwatidzo In my community, when a baby is born, we say “makorokoto, mapona”—“congratulations, you survived.” These words, while celebratory, echo a painful reality for many women in Zimbabwe. Childbirth remains perilous, especially in underserved communities where access to timely medical care is often a luxury. Among the most devastating consequences is obstetric fistula—a preventable and treatable condition that continues to trap women in cycles of pain, isolation, and stigma. Obstetric fistula occurs when prolonged, obstructed labour creates a hole between the birth canal and the bladder or…

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One Stitch at a Time: Zimbabwe’s Fight to End Obstetric Fistula

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Bikita, Mashoko In rural and underserved parts of Zimbabwe, a silent but devastating condition continues to rob women of their dignity, health, and hope: obstetric fistula. Often caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without timely medical intervention, this childbirth injury leaves women incontinent and frequently ostracised by their communities. But today, a growing movement of awareness, surgical intervention, and community support is changing the tide. One stitch at a time, medical teams and advocates are not only restoring bodies but also rebuilding lives. Twenty-nine-year-old Sandra Mugowo from…

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UNFPA, WFP MoU Seeks to Integrate Food Security and Health Services

Michael Gwarisa

By Michale Gwarisa  In a landmark move that marks a deepening of collaboration between two major United Nations agencies, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the integration of critical health and protection services into food assistance programmes across Zimbabwe. The new MoU aims to enhance the reach and impact of both organisations by delivering sexual and reproductive health services, family planning, and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention support at WFP food distribution points. The integrated…

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US Cuts UNFPA Funding, Threatening Millions of Lives and Maternal Health Gains Globally

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, has expressed deep regret following the United States government’s decision to halt future funding to the organization, a move that could reverse decades of progress in maternal health and reproductive rights. The US government announced its intention to cut funding by invoking the Kemp-Kasten Amendment, citing long-debunked claims about UNFPA’s alleged involvement in coercive reproductive practices in China. Multiple independent investigations, including by US government agencies, have found no evidence to support these allegations.…

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Raped at a Funeral: Chinhoyi Woman Battles Post-Traumatic Mental Health Episodes

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Sometimes she slams doors, shatters furniture, and shouts at anyone nearby. But she wasn’t always like this. Barbra Cullinan (42) of Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West, now lives in perpetual fear of men, their presence a constant reminder of the horrific ordeal she endured on November 26, 2022, during the month of her birthday. On that fateful day, Barbra attended a funeral to pay her last respects to a close relative. Unbeknownst to her, a man she knew had sinister intentions. Amid the grief and mourning, he saw an…

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