Category: REPRODUCTIVE

Women Cant Rape Men According to Zimbabwean Law

Michael Gwarisa

DO you all still remember those days a few years back when newspapers would be flooded with stories of women who would target drunk unsuspecting men, have sex with them without their consent for the purposes of harvesting sperms? Almost every headline screamed “Women Rapists On The Loose.” But do you know what the Zimbabwean law says about rape and the procedures one should take reporting a rape case? By Michael Gwarisa According to Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, it is impossible for a woman to rape a…

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Say It Louder’ Webinar Series addresses the Impact of COVID-19 on Early and Unintended Pregnancy in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region

Michael Gwarisa

THE COVID-19 pandemic has impacted issues such as access to health and education services, including contraception, gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy, highlighting the critical need for targeted messaging, information and resources for young people. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) released data showing that the pandemic could result in a projected seven million unintended pregnancies. Since July of 2019, UNESCO, SAfAIDS, UNFPA and Save the Children Sweden with support from PCI Media have been running the Let’s Talk campaign in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region. The program aims to reduce early…

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Steroids boost survival of preterm babies in low-resource settings, new study finds

Michael Gwarisa

Accurate pregnancy dating and quality care combined with the steroids are key to survival THE results of a new clinical trial, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, show that dexamethasone—a glucocorticoid used to treat many conditions, including rheumatic problems and severe COVID-19— can boost survival of premature babies when given to pregnant women at risk of preterm birth in low-resource settings. The WHO ACTION-I trial resolves an ongoing controversy about the efficacy of antenatal steroids for improving preterm newborn survival in low-income countries. Dexamethasone and similar drugs…

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Mpilo Hospital Reduces Maternal Mortality

Healthtimes
Young Preganant Women

MPILO Central Hospital has successfully implemented measures to reduce  maternal mortality from an average of  three deaths per week to zero which include reasonable service delivery, free maternal services and free blood transfusion services. On average the hospital witnesses 30 deliveries a day. There have been massive reductions in maternal mortality from an average of 3 per week to zero or three per month. SOURCE: Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC)

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UNFPA To Continue Offering Community Based Solutions To Reduce GBV In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has vowed to continue offering community-based mechanisms to mitigate the risk of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa In 2019, UNFPA Zimbabwe focused on expanding safe spaces, distribution of dignity kits and capacity development of GBV sector on prevention and mitigation of GBV in emergency situations. The organization also rolled out One Stop Centres which have also continued to provide critical comprehensive support and services to GBV survivors. According to the UNFPA 2019 Annual Report, they have expanded services to vulnerable…

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Zim Still Stuck With Archaic Termination Of Pregnancy Law

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE  this week joined the rest of the world in commemorating the Safe Abortions day albeit the country is still operating under a 43-year-old Termination of Pregnancy ACT which prevents women from accessing safe abortion at health institutions even though evidence suggests that majority of the country’s maternal deaths are as a result of haemorrhaging due to unsafe abortions, a legal expert has said. By Michael Gwarisa The country’s existing Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP ACT V (No. 29  of 1977) was adopted in 1977 and only permits women to…

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In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic UNFPA and partners call for greater efforts to ensure access to contraceptives for women and girls

Michael Gwarisa

IN the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic and on World Contraception Day, the UN’s reproductive health and rights agency – the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and partners have called for greater efforts to ensure access to contraceptives for women and girls of reproductive age. This is towards “Zero unmet Need for Contraception” even during emergency and humanitarian situations. HealthTimes Reporter World Contraceptive Day is commemorated each year on 26 September. Launched in 2007, the day was set aside to help raise awareness on contraception to enable young people…

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COVID-19 Shuts Door To Infertile Women Seeking IVF Services In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

MAJORITY of women seeking In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) services could not be assisted during the COVID-19 induced lockdown restrictions despite the fact that many could be racing against their biological clock. By Michael Gwarisa In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility or prevent genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. In an interview with HealthTimes, Mwanachipo Africa Trust (MAT) Board Chairperson, Mr Heaven Munyuki said…

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CDC Intensifies Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE Center for Diseases Control (CDC) has scaled up Cervical Cancer and treatment in Zimbabwe in a bid to reduce the high mortality and morbidity associated with the disease  in  Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa According to official statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Cervical Cancer kills not less than 2000 women annually and majority of affected women are women living with HIV. In its 2019 Annual report, CDC Zimbabwe 2019 said HIV remains an important risk factor for cervical cancer, with HIV-positive women 4-5 times more…

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“Shaina” A New Movie About Coming Of Age Premiers Tonight On ZTV

Michael Gwarisa

THE U.S. Agency for International Development  (USAID) in collaboration with high profiled Zimbabwean actors have come together to deliver a unique coming of age film titled Shaina which premiers tonight at 9 PM on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC TV.) By Michael Gwarisa The film  also follows the Success of other two projects “Inside Story” and “Lucky Specials” and is part of a media initiative to empower adolescent girls and young women in Sub-Saharan Africa by the (USAID). The USAID funded feature-length film, Shaina, premiers on ZBC-TV at 21 at 9PM tonight and …

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