REPRODUCTIVE |

UNFPA Zimbabwe Explores Use Of Drones To Reach Women and Girls In Inaccessible Areas With Services

August 2, 2023August 2, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

The United Nations Population Fund in Zimbabwe (UNFPA-Zimbabwe), says it will soon be rolling out Drone Technology to deliver services to women and girls in hard-to-reach areas. By Michael Gwarisa The move is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which recognize innovation as critical to accelerating progress towards global development aspirations as it ensures they deliver on their three transformative results to end preventable maternal death, end unmet need for family planning, and end violence gender-based violence (GBV) and all harmful practices, including female genital mutilation and child…

A Fruitful Marriage: Urban Voucher System Reduces Maternal Deaths in Harare’s Central Hospitals/Council Clinics

July 28, 2023July 29, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

Like many women in high-density and peri-urban communities, Method Pagiwa (26), from Kuwadzana Phase in Harare, registered her pregnancy with the Antenatal Clinic at Rujeko Polyclinic in Dzivarasekwa, when she was seven months into her pregnancy. This, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards is not recommended as they prescribe that women in developing countries such as Zimbabwe, should seek ANC within four months (17 Weeks) of pregnancy. By Michael Gwarisa On July 7, 2023, Method started experiencing labor pains and her waters broke while she was on her…

SOWP Report Findings a Wake-Up Call for Zim Government to Respect Women’s Bodily Autonomy

July 27, 2023July 27, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT should allow women the power to make decisions regarding their own Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), a top Zimbabwe Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprises official has said. By Michael Gwarisa This was revealed during the launch of the 2023 State of the World Population Report (SWOP) in the Capital Harare. The report was conducted by the United National Population Fund (UNFPA) and revealed that while the world population has reached the 8 billion mark, more women and girls were still lagging in terms of access…

As ICPD30 Beckons, Here Is How Zimbabwe Has Fared In Fulfilling Nairobi Summit Commitments

July 26, 2023July 26, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

IN 2019, Zimbabwe joined the world in Nairobi, Kenya for the 25th International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (ICPD25). The week-long event aimed to strengthen partnerships and harness re-commitments in the continued empowerment of women, and young people and ensuring access to sexual reproductive health (SRH) services. By Michael Gwarisa Next year, 2024, the ICPD will mark 30 years since the ICPD Programme of Action was adopted in 1994 by 179 Member States in Cairo Egypt. The ICPD, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),…

When Communities Take Up Leading Role In Improving Maternal and Child Health

July 23, 2023July 24, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

When the world locked down in 2020 at the back of a COVID-19 pandemic, all health services left for COVID-19-related interventions were heavily disrupted. Maternal and Child Health were among some of the most affected services as health facilities offering services continued to face significant challenges compromising the quality of care By Michael Gwarisa Even though data points to an increase in institutional deliveries since the year 2016 in Zimbabwe, a decline was noted during the COVID-19 era. This was largely attributed to the disruption in maternal health services and…

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

July 21, 2023 Healthtimes

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…

WAG Launches Four Months Long Campaign To Mark 40th Anniversary

July 12, 2023November 28, 2023 Healthtimes

The Women’s Action Group (WAG) this year celebrates 40 years of championing the feminist movement in Zimbabwe in their quest to advance women’s rights and end abuse of women and girls in all spheres. By Ntokozo Gudu To celebrate the four decades WAG launched a four-month campaign with this year’s celebrations themed “WAG@40: We move on”. Speaking at the launch of the campaign on Wednesday, WAG executive director Mrs Edinah Masiyiwa said they will continue to fight for the uplifting and respect of a woman’s dignity. The formation of WAG…

Study finds 20% of Zimbabwean Youth have STIs

July 11, 2023July 11, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

Epidemiologist and Sexual Reproductive Health Expert, Dr Chido Dziva Chikwari has warned of a high prevalence of three Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Trichomonas amongst Zimbabwe’s young and youthful population. By Michael Gwarisa The data was revealed during a door-to-door Population Based Prevalence Survey that was conducted between 2020 and 22 in 16 communities around Zimbabwe where young people were tested for STIs. Speaking in an interview recently, Dr Chikwari said it can’t be business as usual and there is need to adopt new methods of screening for…

A Well-Resourced Health System Essential For Zimbabwe to Attain Reproductive Justice

June 19, 2023 Healthtimes

By Edinah Masiyiwa, Executive Director Women’s Action Group Attending a recent workshop organized by the Community Working Group on Health on “reproductive justice” reminded me how much the core values of reproductive justice are being violated in Zimbabwe and how much we need to protect girls and young women from injustice. The term reproductive justice has a history in feminist ideology and has three core values: the right to have a child, the right to not have a child, and the right to parent a child or children in safe…

Birth control pills may increase the risk of depression

June 19, 2023 Healthtimes

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses and can have several debilitating symptoms. Researchers are still learning what factors contribute to depression risk. A recent study found that oral contraceptives may increase depression risk among adolescent and adult women, particularly in the first two years of use. By Jessica Norris on June 17, 2023 — Fact checked by Alexandra Sanfins, Ph.D. Research is ongoing about what factors influence a person’s risk for depression. Often depression risk involves a combination of internal and external factors. Modifying certain risk factors…