Tag: UNFPA

Cyclone Idai Leaves 75 000 HIV Positive Women Vulnerable

Healthtimes

A total number of 75 000 HIV positive women  from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawai were affected by the Cyclone Idai which left millions in need of humanitarian assistance. By Michael Gwarisa In a flooding scenario, most people loose valuables ranging from property, medicines, shelter clothing and food items. According to the March 2019 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)  Sub-Regional Situation Report for Malawi  Mozambique and Zimbabwe,  nearly 3 million people have been affected by flooding, among them more than 600,000 women of reproductive age, 70,000 pregnant women and 75,000 women…

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Parent To Child Communication Bridges SRHR Gap At Grassroots

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE has over the years been battling soaring cases of teenage pregnancies, early marriages, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV infections in adolescents among a host of other sexual reproductive health related issues. By Michael Gwarisa recently In Zvimba According to the National Adolescent Fertility Study (NAFS) of 2016 conducted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), adolescent pregnancies remain a major contributor to maternal and child mortality in Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe, the adolescent fertility…

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“We never said Sexual Consent Age Should Be Reduced To 12”

Healthtimes

PARLIAMENTARY Portfolio Committee on Health Chairperson, Dr Ruth Labode says the committee’s plea for government to avail Sexual Reproductive Health and contraceptives to adolescents and young girls was misquoted and misrepresented. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Labode says her committee has always been pushing for government to consider availing sexual reproductive health services such as contraceptives to young girls and boys to avoid unwanted pregnancies and the spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). “We were actually at an induction workshop in Kadoma, we have been pushing…

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Mutare Prov Hospital Struggles With Critical Maternal Referral Cases

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MUTARE provincial Hospital acting medical superintendent, Dr Emmanuel Sedze says most district hospitals are referring maternal cases that would be in bad shape, resulting in increased maternal deaths being recorded from their institution.   By Michael Gwarisa recently in Mutare The development comes amidst indications that some hospitals in the province recorded zero maternal deaths while some only have a few mortality cases while the provincial hospitals which handles the bulk of referral cases from district hospitals  is left to bear the brunt of deaths owing to the advanced stage…

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Gender Violence Survivors Find Hope In Safe Shelter

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THE road leading to Hauna, a fruits and horticulture farming community in Honde Valley in the Eastern Highlands, is one long, winding and treacherous one.   By Michael Gwarisa recently in Hauna Honde Valley Through the mountainous and rugged terrain, the dark tarred road wriggles its way through the countryside from Nyanga, passing through some sloppy curves and escarpments. Owing to the high altitude, the sense of hearing somehow fades midway through the mountains while the light rain showers randomly spit from all directions. In the Banana, Sugarcane and fruit…

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Raped At 15, Impregnated, Fails To Abort

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NINE months ago, what started as an ordinary school day ended tragically for one Primary school pupil Theresa Maropa (Not real name) from Tanda in Nyanga, after she was brutally raped and violated by a daring, unrelenting fellow villager.   By Michael Gwarisa in Nyanga The man whose identity is yet to be ascertained is married and has his family but indications are that he has since gone into hiding in some unknown location. By merely glancing at the young girl whose innocence was forcibly taken away from her, one…

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UNFPA Calls For Male Participation In Family Planning Choices

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THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has implored men to be actively involved in the family planning choices and decisions so as to increase uptake of contraceptives as well as reduce gender based violence at household level.   By Michael Gwarisa Launching the State of the World Population Report, UNFPA Country Representative Dr. Esther Muia said family planning was not forced on anyone but a choice one makes freely for the good of their health and economic wellbeing. “The State of the World Population Report (SWOP) is a flagship report…

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Young Girls Warned Against Abusing Morning After Pills

Healthtimes

TAKING morning after pills or emergency control pills excessively could expose the body to harmful toxins and long term health effects, a Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) official has warned.   By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare The call comes at the back of discoveries that most young girls in particular those in tertiary institutions were consistently taking emergency contraceptives as a birth control method amidst indications that in some instances, a month long supply at a single pharmacy may only last a few  days due to excessive consumption. Briefing…

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Of Adolescent Mothers and Maternal Complications

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ZIMBABWE is still struggling to cope with growing cases of maternal deaths and complications with statistics indicating that young girls aged 10 to 13 being the biggest victims.   By Michael Gwarisa According to the UNFPA National Adolescent Fertility Study of 2016, in Zimbabwe the fertility for adolescent women aged 15-19 years was 115 births per 1,000 women of the same age in 2015. The report also indicated that although fertility  rates  among  women  aged  20  years  and  above  in  Zimbabwe  have  fallen  over  the  last  two  decades,  adolescent  pregnancy …

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UK Govt Avails $82, 1million Grant for Zim Health

Healthtimes

By Kudakwashe Pembere THE UK Government through the Development for International Development (DFID) has availed a GBP 65, 2 million (US$82, 1 million) grant to Zimbabwe as a way of supporting a resilient health system in Zimbabwe. The grant seeks to improve sexual, reproductive health, and nutrition services for women, adolescents and children.A huge chunk of this grant has been earmarked for financing health interventions under the Health Development Fund while US$2, 2 million is for strengthening Zimbabwe’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks. In her remarks,…

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