Tag: MIRANDA TABIFOR

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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Zimbabwe Makes Gains in Reducing Maternal Mortality, but Challenges Persist

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Zimbabwe has recorded a significant drop in maternal deaths, according to new data from the 2023–24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), offering a rare moment of optimism for a country grappling with chronic healthcare challenges. The survey, released on June 2 at Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare, shows that the maternal mortality ratio has declined from 462 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 363 in 2024—a reduction of nearly 21 percent. Government officials, development partners, and public health experts welcomed the findings as evidence…

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Health Assistance Project Improves Maternal Health Outcomes in Cyclone-Idai-Affected Areas

Michael Gwarisa

By Kuda Pembere Amidst the devastating impact of Cyclone Idai in Manicaland Province, which damaged clinics, hospitals, and road infrastructure, the Health Assistance Project, funded by the Chinese Government and implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Zimbabwe, contributed to over 63,300 safe deliveries. The project began in 2020 and concluded last year. Of the 63,327 deliveries, 8,357 were successful Caesarean sections. Speaking at the signing ceremony for the completion certificate of the Health Assistance Project for women and girls affected by Cyclone Idai, Health and Child Care Deputy…

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UNFPA Partners with Social Workers and Universities to Strengthen GBV Response

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has announced a strategic partnership with the Council of Social Workers, academic institutions, and government entities to enhance case management services for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) under the Women at the Centre programme. The announcement was made on December 6, 2024, as part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign. Gender-based violence continues to plague Zimbabwe, with nearly one in two women experiencing physical or sexual violence. To address this crisis, the UNFPA initiative, funded by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, aims to…

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Zimbabwe Launches E-learning Platform For Midwifery

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere in Chinhoyi CHINHOYI School of Midwifery is one of the six pilot nursing schools selected to conduct studies using an e-learning platform for midwifery. The platform, a first of its kind in the country and was created to close the gap created by the shortage of midwifery tutors in Zimbabwe due to brain drain. Officiating the launch, acting Health and Child Care Minister, Professor Paul Mavima said the e-learning platform for midwifery learning shows the Ministry of Health’s commitment to move towards improving learning experience through incorporating…

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Government of Zimbabwe, UNFPA and partners call for greater investment to accelerate progress on the population and development agenda

Michael Gwarisa

By Health Reporter At a High Level Meeting to track progress on implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD PoA), and in light of findings from a global report, the Government of Zimbabwe, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and partners today called for greater investment to accelerate progress on the population and development agenda. The year 2024 is a milestone year for the global community as it marks the 30th anniversary of the ICPD. The ICPD conference, held in Cairo in September 1994,…

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Zimbabwe Records Upsurge In Adolescents Booking In Antenatal Clinics

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Adolescent pregnancy prevalence in Zimbabwe is standing at 23.7 percent, while 21 percent of Antenatal Clinic (ANC) bookings were recorded from January 2019 to December 2022 among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years, HealthTimes can reveal. The pregnancies have largely been driven by a myriad of factors, chief among them being economic-induced hardships, sexual abuse, and early exposure to pornographic and indecent online content, according to data from a National Assessment of Adolescent Pregnancies in Zimbabwe. The National assessment was conducted by the Centre for Sexual Health…

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