ICPD |

Zim Drafts Commitments Ahead Of ICPD Summit

October 4, 2019October 4, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT ministries, the United Nations family in Zimbabwe and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have come up with a number commitments to be tabled at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) summit to be held in Nairobi, Kenya next month. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes amidst calls from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Zimbabwe to propose achievable and realistic targets which translate into tangible development for various populations in particular youths. Speaking at the ICPD25 Validation meeting in Harare, UNFPA country representative, Dr Esther Muia…

Youths Want Inclusion In SRHR Planning

October 2, 2019October 2, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

YOUTHS should be involved in the planning and implementation of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) interventions if Zimbabwe is to address the unfinished business affecting young people, a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) official has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking on the side-lines of a two day International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Youth Engagement meeting, UNFPA Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Program Analyst, Pennelope Kasere said Zimbabwe has made strides in addressing so may issues affecting young people but more still needs to be done to…

Guruve Couples Turn To Withdrawal Method…As Contraceptives Crisis Deepens

September 28, 2019September 28, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

IT’S a chilly evening in the sandy plains of Guruve and everyone is tucked in their homes waiting to have a hot meal and take an evening nap. Everyone is talking about the change of weather and how all of a sudden, September has turned out to be freezing while some ambitious farmers are already contemplating tilling the land. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Guruve For married couples, evenings are like what Christmas is to a five year old. It is a well-known and scientifically proven fact that men get…

Zim Faces Spike In Illegal Abortions…As Gvt Warns Of Worsening Contraceptives Crisis

September 24, 2019September 24, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT has hinted of a worsening contraceptives crisis spilling into 2020 owing to a plethora of factors chief among them being delays in the procurement processes both at local level and from source markets. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Health, Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Robert Mudyiradima said the contraceptives situation is likely to worsen. The information that we have is that for the year 2020, there may be contraceptives challenges. That is the information that we have right now…

UN Worried Over Increased New HIV Infections In Girls

August 28, 2019August 28, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

OUTGOING United Nations (UN) resident coordinator, Mr Bishow Parajuli has expressed concern over increased cases of new HIV infections in girls and youths in Zimbabwe at a time when the country was witnessing a reduction in infections amongst other groups. By Michael Gwarisa According to the UNAIDS: HIV and Women report released early this year, Zimbabwe has 780 000 young girls infected with HIV. Briefing a Media Breakfast Meeting on Wednesday, Mr Parajuli said there was need for mobilisation of resources towards improving treatment and access to HIV prevention for…

When Votes Matter More Than Preventing SGBV

August 27, 2019August 27, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE is grappling with a huge burden of early marriages, rape, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (GBV) against women and young girls. By Michael Gwarisa Government through support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other donor and civil society groups have been running various programs at community level in a bid to end early marriages. According to the UNICEF 2017 statistics, 32% of girls in Zimbabwe are married before the age of 18 and 4% are married before their 15th birthday. The lowest median ages of marriage are…

African & Asian Parliamentarians Meeting Sets Tone For ICPD Conference

August 20, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE African and Asian Parliamentarians meeting on Populations and Development for ICPD+25 which was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania has set the tone for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) to be held in Narobi, Kenya. By Michael Gwarisa The conference which was held from 5 to 6 August 2019 served as a platform to gather the opinions and set of proposed actions of parliamentarians in the Asia and Africa regions. Osamu Kusumoto, the Executive Director and Secretary General for Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) said…

GBV, The Evil Unfinished Business Stalking Zim

August 10, 2019August 10, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

AFTER being confronted by her husband Tobias on countless times over her refusal to return to her parents’ home, Loveness (Not real Names) found herself at the receiving end of unrelenting abuse at the hands of her husband of four years. By Michael Gwarisa As the argument ensued one day, Tobias took an axe and without hesitation struck his wife three times on the head before fleeing the scene. By taking a glance at the oozing blood and the grisly scene of her bludgeoned head, one could conclude that Loveness…

Climate Disasters Expose Pregnant Women To Unimaginable Risks

May 14, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE world is experiencing a shift in climatic conditions and with this shift a number of natural disasters are occurring, leaving millions exposed to various unhealthy conditions. By Michael Gwarisa Two months ago, Zimbabwe witnessed what has been termed the world natural disaster in Africa South of the Sahara by climate experts following the devastation and loss of lives that was experienced as a result of Tropical Cyclone Idai. Even though government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) ramped up efforts to provide the affected victims with basic necessities ranging from food,…

Adolescents Birth Rate Rises In Zim…Despite Increase In Contraceptives Coverage

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE has progressed in availing modern contraceptive methods to its population from 42% percent in 1994 to 67% in 2018, while the fertility rate has declined from 4.3% to 4 percent in 2018, the 2019 State of the World Population (SWOP) report has revealed. By Michael Gwarisa Giving the findings of the SWOP 2019 report, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Director, Mr Charles Mujajati said it was government’s mandate to ensure they are growing the economy faster than they are growing the population and the only way that can…