MARTERNAL HEALTH Archives

Woman Relives 12 Year Ordeal With Obstetric Fistula

May 24, 2023May 24, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

AS an orphan and at age 14, Tendai Chimana (now 40), got into an early child marriage. This occurred after she had dropped out of school in Grade 7 and started working as a house help in Harare since she had relocated from her rural home in Birchenough Bridge, Manicaland. By Michael Gwarisa Some months into her marriage, she conceived and everything was normal. Trouble only came around the third trimester when her husband suggested that she goes and deliver the child in rural Bocha where her aunt resided. It…

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Mashonaland Central Has Highest Number of Girls Married Before the Age of 15

March 1, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

A preliminary 2022 Census Report on Fertility has shown that the prevalence of teen pregnancies was highest in Mashonaland Central province, leading to spike in early child marriages in the province. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency 2022 report, the proportion of women age 20-24 years who were married before the age of 15 years by province was 2.2 percent for Mashonaland Central province, 1.7 percent for Manicaland province and 0.3 percent for Matabeleland South province. The province also recorded the highest number for women age 20-24…

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SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF: How AWET Health interventions have reduced home deliveries Among Apostolic Women and Girls in Shurugwi

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

Caroline Ngosha (23), from Shurugwi is expecting her third child in a few months’ time. In both her previous pregnancies, she delivered her children at home in line with the dictates of her religion, a white garment apostolic sect. Some apostolic sects in Zimbabwe do not allow their followers to use family planning or contraception methods. Neither do they sanction female followers to register with the Anti Natal Clinic (ANC), later on deliver in a health institution. By Michael Gwarisa in Shurugwi She remembers vividly how life threatening giving birth…

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Japan commits more than half a million US dollars to boost Zim Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Care Services

February 15, 2023February 15, 2023 Healthtimes

The Japanese Government has committed USD 633,975 to strengthen access to safe, timely and affordable Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia (SOA) care services in Manicaland and Matabeleland North Provinces. By Own Correspondent The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). The funding from the Japanese Government will support SOA care services for everyone in need of care at all levels. It will also build the capacity of critical specialist health workers providing SOA services in Zimbabwe, provide…

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Baby Born Clutching Mothers IUD Contraceptive In Hand

February 1, 2023 Healthtimes

A 20-year-old woman who got pregnant while on birth control has detailed the shocking moment her baby was born – with her IUD in his hand. DAILY MAIL Violet Quick, from Idaho, married her husband John Francis at 19, and while the two lovebirds weren’t planning on having a child, just one year into their marriage they were met with a surprise when the now-mom-of-one learned she was expecting. Violet and John welcomed their baby boy Rudy one week ago and in a viral video, which has amassed 22.8 million…

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Zimbabwe Launches US$90 Million Health Resilience Fund

January 23, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), through support from development and funding partners, has launched the Health Resilience Fund (HRF) worth US$90 Million to support interventions across three main pillars which include ending Preventable Maternal and Child Deaths; Global Health Security; and Health Systems Strengthening. By Michael Gwarisa Funding and development partners to the HRF include the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK) Government, Ireland, Sweden, and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, as well as the UN agencies UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO. Officiating at the launch which coincided…

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Zim Launches Family Planning Strategy 2022-2026

December 17, 2022December 17, 2022 Kuda Pembere

Zimbabwe on Friday asserted its Family Planning 2030 commitments among them to ensure a zero unmet need for family planning methods while launching the country’s National Family Planning Strategy 2022-2026 blueprint. By Kudakwashe Pembere Officiating the launch, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga said strategy is anchored on Government seeing family planning and sexual reproduction as key human rights. Today, we reiterate our full commitment to the family planning and contraceptive service programme. While sustaining and consolidating the gains we have made, we are therefore…

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Almost 200 babies born through IVF Zimbabwe programme

November 15, 2022November 15, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

The in vitro (IVF) fertilisation programme which was reintroduced in Zimbabwe in 2016 by a team led by Dr Tinovimba Mhlanga has proved a great success with 197 live births recorded so far and more expected before the year ends. By Michael Gwarisa With almost 500 treatment cycles having been performed this gives an overall average success rate of 39 percent, which compares favourably with the success rate in other countries. Dr Mhlanga pointed out, however, that the success rate varies with age. Women aged between 20 and 35 have…

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Media Trained On Improved Attitudes Towards Safe Abortion

November 2, 2022 Patricia Mashiri

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists together with the Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ) held a three day media training workshop to improve the knowledge and attitude towards safe abortion in Zimbabwe. By Patricia Mashiri The training termed the Value Clarification Attitudes Transformation (VCAT) was also centred on discussions around religious and cultural beliefs around abortion, the legal framework that guide abortion in Zimbabwe and how to report sensitively on the issue so as to change the attitudes of the society . Mrs Edna Masiyiwa, the Women’s Action Group (WAG)…

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Curtain comes down on Regional SRHR Symposium…As Sweden Assesses New Funding Proposal For 2gether4SRHR Program

October 15, 2022October 15, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

THE three day Regional Symposium on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR),has come to an end amidst growing calls for increased investment and creation of an enabling policy framework that allows for the smooth implementation of SRHR programs in the East and Southern African region (ESAR). By Michael Gwarisa in Victoria Falls The symposium was hosted by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and organized by UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO under the banner of the Joint UN Regional 2gether 4 SRHR Programme. Over 200 delegates from across 24…

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