Tag: UNFPA

When Votes Matter More Than Preventing SGBV

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…

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African & Asian Parliamentarians Meeting Sets Tone For ICPD Conference

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…

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GBV, The Evil Unfinished Business Stalking Zim

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…

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Every Police Officer Should Get Victim Friendly Training To End GBV

Michael Gwarisa

PARLIAMENTARIANS have called on the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to realign its curriculum and make it compulsory for every police officer to have Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) training so as to increase efficiency in dealing with Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases. By Michael Gwarisa   Speaking during a Policy Makers Dialogue meeting in Harare organised by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) Vice President, Honorable Lynette Karenyi said Integrating VFU training into police training would ensure survivors of GBV get closure and comfort after…

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143 Maternal Deaths Recorded in Zim Since Beginning Of Year- MoHCC

Healthtimes

A total of 143 maternal deaths were recorded throughout Zimbabwe over the period January to July 2018 owing various maternal related complications. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in July, six maternal mortality cases were reported during the week ending 14 July 2019. This brings the total number of people who have died of maternal mortality to 143 so far this year. The deaths were reported from Northern District (1), Harare Central Hospital (2), Chitungwiza Central Hospital (1) in Harare Province, UBH (1)…

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Call For Increased Domestic Funding For Family Planning

Healthtimes

THERE is need for Zimbabwe to have a budget line dedicated for  family planning commodities as most of the funding comes from donors, a Ministry of Health and Child Care official said on Thursday. By Kudakwashe Pembere Speaking at a Budget and Finance parliamentary committee sensitization workshop on family planning issues, on behalf of Family Health director in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Bernard Madzima, his deputy Dr DavidzoyaShe Makosa said family planning is one of the pillars of safe motherhood and as ministry of health and…

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Cultural Beliefs Hamper Uptake of Alternative Menstrual Health Products

Michael Gwarisa

LACK of information, coupled with strong cultural beliefs around virginity and womanhood have slowed down uptake of alternative menstrual health products in marginalised communities. By Michael Gwarisa Most young girls and women in rural and other marginalised communities in Zimbabwe lack access to affordable and safe sanitary care products. Over the years, various companies in Zimbabwe have come up with innovative means of managing menstrual health in the form of menstrual cups, menstrual pants and reusable sanitary pads. In an interview with HealthTimes, United Nations Population Fund   (UNFPA )…

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Menstrual Health Trust Launched In Zim

Michael Gwarisa

A Menstrual Health Specialist Trust (MHS) which is to boost donor and partner support for menstrual health products in Zimbabwe has been officially launched. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at the launch, The Butterfly Cup Company Managing Director, Sarah Fox said girls from marginalised communities were finding it hard to access sanitary wear and at times end up missing school lessons and productive time as they try to manage their periods in isolation. By launching the MHS trust, we hope to be able to engage with you to help vulnerable women…

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Climate Disasters Expose Pregnant Women To Unimaginable Risks

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,…

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

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…

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