Use Of Modern Contraceptives Prevents 141 million unintended pregnancies, 29 Million Unsafe Abortions In 2022

DATA from the Family Planning 2030’s 2022 Measurement Report has shown an increase in the use of modern contraception around the world, with an estimated 371 million women of reproductive age in low- and lower-middle-income countries now using a modern method of family planning, 87 million more than just a decade ago. By Michael Gwarisa FP2030’s 2022 Measurement Report, which was previewed in November 2022 at the International Conference on Family Planning, shows that more women in low- and lower-middle income countries are using modern family planning methods than ever…

Read More

Contraceptive Prevalence Still Depressed In Young People -ZNFPC

EVEN though all indicators in Zimbabwe’s national family planning program have done well over the years, teenage pregnancies, early child marriages, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and new HIV infections have been on an upward trend in young people due to lack of access to contraceptives and other preventive methods. By Michael Gwarisa Currently, the Zimbabwe Public Health Act does not permit young adolescents to access or purchase contraceptives, medications and other health services in the absence of an adult thus making it difficult for young people below the age of…

Read More

Allow Adolescence To Access Contraceptives -Govt Urged

GOVERNMENT has been urged to set up legislation encouraging teenagers to gain access to contraceptives in order to mitigate the increase in teenage pregnancies which put young girls at higher risk of maternal death. Own Correspondent Recently, Health and Child Care Minister, Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga said girls under the age of 16 cannot be given contraceptives as they cannot legally consent to sexual activity. Speaking during a virtual meeting on Social Accountability and Oversight in the Implementation of SADC Regional Commitments in Health and Agriculture yesterday, Chairperson for the Parliamentary…

Read More

Open Up Space For Adolescents To Access SRHR Services

RECENTLY, I was saddened to read that a dead infant was found during a burst sewer pipe at a primary school in Bulawayo. I imagined the state of hopelessness the parent must have felt to resort to infanticide. And I felt angry about the lack of prioritization of women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), especially during this time of COVID-19 lockdowns, that may have contributed to this horrific outcome. By Edinah Masiyiwa The insufficient attention to women’s and girls’ needs and disruptions in health systems during…

Read More

Gvt, UNFPA Raise Concern Over Widening Contraceptive Gap Due To COVID-19

THE Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have bemoaned the challenges being faced by women  and girls to access contraceptives and family planning services during the COVID-19 induced lockdown. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a Virtual Media briefing to commemorate World Population Day which ran under theme, “Putting the brakes on COVID-19: How to Safeguard the Health and Rights of Women and Girls Now?” Women Affairs Minister, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said the lockdown had made access to critical contraceptives…

Read More

Guruve Couples Turn To Withdrawal Method…As Contraceptives Crisis Deepens

IT’S a chilly evening in the sandy plains of Guruve and everyone is tucked in their homes waiting to have a hot meal and take an evening nap. Everyone is talking about the change of weather and how all of a sudden, September has turned out to be freezing  while some ambitious farmers are already contemplating tilling the land. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Guruve For married couples, evenings are like what Christmas is to a five year old. It is a well-known and scientifically proven fact that men get…

Read More

Zim Faces Spike In Illegal Abortions…As Gvt Warns Of Worsening Contraceptives Crisis

GOVERNMENT has hinted of a worsening contraceptives crisis spilling into 2020 owing to a plethora of factors chief among them being delays in the procurement processes both at local level and from source markets. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Health, Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Robert Mudyiradima said the contraceptives situation is likely to worsen. The information that we have is that for the year 2020, there may be contraceptives challenges. That is the information that we have right now…

Read More

Contraceptive shortage hits Matabeleland North province

GOVERNMENT run health facilities in Matabeleland North Province are experiencing a severe shortage of contraceptives. HealthTimes Reporter Health facilities visited over the past month reported very low supplies or mostly no supplies of oral contraceptives, injectables and implants. The province is also facing a dire shortage of condoms, worsening the situation. Health watchdog, Citizens Health Watch said the shortage undermines women’s reproductive health rights and increases the risk of unwanted pregnancies.  There are also concerns that women maybe be forced to resort to unsafe abortions as a result of unwanted…

Read More