Tag: open defecation

Stunting Remains a Critical Challenge for Zimbabwe’s Children, Report Reveals

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Despite improvements in several food security and nutrition indicators, stunting rates among children under five in Zimbabwe remain alarmingly high, posing a significant threat to the nation’s human capital and long-term development, according to the recently released 2025 Rural Livelihoods Assessment Report. The report, produced by the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC), indicates that 23.8% of children aged 6-59 months are stunted. Stunting, defined as impaired growth and development due to poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation, has lifelong consequences for health, cognitive ability, and economic productivity.…

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Mat North and Masvingo Provinces Have Largest Number Of People Practicing Open Defecation

Healthtimes

THE number of households still using the bush as toilets have remained high in Matabelenand North and Masvingo provinces. Staff Reporter According to data from a Housing Characteristics and Living Conditions Survey that has been released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency(ZIMSTAT), 50.0 percent of households in Mat North province still practice open defecation while followed by Masvingo where 35 percent of the households are also using the bush to relieve themselves. Mat South and Midlands province both had 31.5% followed by Mashonaland West which had 23.6 percent, Mashonaland Central…

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NAC/UNICEF Collaborate To Integrate WASH and HIV Programs For Positive Health Outcomes In Sanyati

Michael Gwarisa

IN a bid to reduce diarrhoeal induced morbidity and mortality amongst People Living with HIV (PLHIV) as well as influence behavior change, the National AIDS Council (NAC) has partnered the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNCEF) and the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) to integrate HIV and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programs in Sanyati districts.   By Michael Gwarisa recently in Sanyati A study conducted by the Anglo-American Group foundation indicate that Diarrhoea remains a very common disease affecting about 90% of people living with HIV in Southern Africa,…

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Apply Gender Lens For All WASH Programmes To Reduce SGBV Says UNICEF

Michael Gwarisa
Picture From Nehanda Radio

AS the world grapples to contain the COVID-19 health crisis, a silent pandemic in the form of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) continues to roam around untamed. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of 2019, about one in every two women aged 15-49 in Zimbabwe had experienced emotional, physical and sexual abuse committed by the current or last husband/partner in their lifetime. By Michael Gwarisa To address the continued surge in GBV and SGBV cases, there is need to identify the loopholes and gaps that may be contributing…

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Open Defecation Highest in Mat North

Michael Gwarisa

MATEBELELAND North recorded the highest number of households still practicing open defecation in the period 2018 to 2019, a Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) survey has reported. By Michael Gwarisa According to the report, 60% of households in Mat North practice open defecation against a 33% national defecation rate. Open defecation was practiced by 33% of households nationally, with the highest proportion being in Matabeleland North was 60%. Binga had the highest proportion of households was 74.3% practising open defecation. Twelve districts had more than 50% of households practising open…

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Why World Toilet Day Is No Joke

Healthtimes

TO date, 4.5 billion people live without safely managed sanitation and 892 million people still practise open defecation.   By Michael Gwarisa Every year, on November 19, the world celebrates World Toilet Day and this year, the day is running under the theme “When nature calls, we have to listen and act.” Twice or thrice a day, nature calls and the need to relieve oneself becomes inevitable making the toilet a basic human right and need. Sanitation has been declared a human right by the United Nations. The United Nations…

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