ZIMBABWEANS have been urged to stop the blame game biased towards females being the infertile.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
Addressing media at a Merck Media Training on Infertility, Zimbabwe’s First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa said it should be made known through media that males can also be sterile.
“We want the media to bring out the message that Infertility affects men and women. This cannot be a blame game yet women bear the brunt of this game,” said the First Lady.
She said this breeds sexual or physical abuse, abuse or isolation from the social structure.
The First Lady identified socio-economic factors such as cultural, traditional, religious and poverty perpertuating stigma along with violence against women perceived infertile in Africa.
“Factors that include poor nutrition, untreated sexually transmitted diseases, unsafe abortions consequences of genital mutilation and exposure to smoking also lead to infertility. Hence men and women are affected equally,” she said.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo concurred that men should also field the blame of being infertile.
“We want you to tell the country that the problem can be treated and couples can be assisted,” he said.
Meanwhile Merck Foundation also announced a Call for Application for “Merck More than a Mother” ‘Media Recognition Awards’ for Zimbabwe and rest of Africa.
The “Merck More than a Mother” ‘Media Recognition Awards’ were launched in 2017 with the aim to emphasize the role of media in enhancing the public engagement and understanding of infertility stigma and the need to change its social perception in African communities.
