Category: REPRODUCTIVE

One Year Into The COVID-19 Pandemic, 12 Million Women Experience Contraceptives Interruptions

Healthtimes

AN estimated 12 million women have experienced disruptions in their family planning services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to 1.4 million unintended pregnancies, according to new estimates released today by UNFPA and Avenir Health. The projections – which take into consideration real-world observations and data – were announced on 11 March, one year since the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic. These latest figures come even as many countries, particularly high-income countries, show early signs of steeply declining birth rates. Together, the findings demonstrate how severely…

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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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Treat mental health care as a priority: S.A.LT Africa

Healthtimes

SOMEONE Always Listens Toyou (S.A.L.T) has partnered with Society for Pre and Post Natal Services (SPANS) in raising mental health awareness campaign in the rural communities. The campaign was held on 8th of March the International Women’s day in Goromonzi. By Patricia Mashiri Mental health is the social, emotional and psychological well-being. It affects how people handle think, feel and handle things. The partnership came after realization that there people have no to less knowledge on mental health issues. Tafadzwa Meki, the founder of S.A.LT Africa said they chose to…

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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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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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One year after Nairobi, the march continues towards rights and choices for all

Michael Gwarisa

Despite global COVID-19 crisis, governments uphold support for women’s and girls’ health and rights, one year after historic summit on ICPD25 AS the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on the health and economies of countries around the world, governments, non-governmental organizations, international financial institutions and the private sector are stepping up political, financial and in-kind support for programmes that protect the health and rights of women and girls in developing countries. A year ago, at the landmark Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, the world came together to commit…

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