United Kingdom Celebrates Health Development Fund Milestones

THE just closed out Health Development Fund (HDF) resulted in the improvement of basic health indicators over the past five year period the fund was operational in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa The US$320 million Health Development Fund to strengthen Zimbabwe’s health systems was launched in 2017 by the United Kingdom (UK), European Union (EU), Ireland, Sweden and GAVI working with the Government of Zimbabwe, UNICEF, UNFPA and the implementers. Speaking during an event to mark the HDF showcase and launch of the Health Resilience Fund (HRF), United Kingdom Ambassador to…

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Regional Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Symposium Kicks-off In Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

OVER 20 African countries are gathered in the resort town of Victoria Falls to deliberate on issues around access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for young people with the aim of finding a lasting solution to teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, and HIV infections in East and Southern Africa. By Michael Gwarisa in Victoria Falls The three day regional symposium which will run up to Thursday, October 13, 2022  has been organized by the  UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO under the banner of the Joint UN Regional 2gether 4…

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Zim Maternal Mortality Ratio Declines Further

Young Preganant Women

THE number of maternal deaths per live births, multiplied by a conventional factor of 100,000, also known as Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), has declined to 363 per 100,000 live births in births in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa This indicates a 6% decline from the previous 2012 MMR ratio of 525. Presenting Preliminary Findings on Mortality from the 2022 Population and Housing Census, Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) Director General, Dr Taguma Mahonde said, “It should be noted that maternal deaths were reported by households and not by place of occurrence.…

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Musasa One Stop Centre Assists 500 GBV Survivors

THE Hopley One Stop Centre being run by Musasa Project through support from the UNFPA and the ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development, has served a total 500 women and girls who experienced GBV and other forms of violence over the past 10 months. By Michael Gwarisa Hopley has a high incidence of GBV as well as other harmful practices such as Child Marriages and teenage pregnancies which are at 18% respectively while 70% of women in Hopley are mothers by age 24. Speaking during a visit to  centre by…

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New UNFPA Regional Director Tours Tariro Clinic and Youth Centre in Hopely

RECENTLY appointed United Nations Population Fund East and Southern Africa (UNFPA-ESA) Regional Director, Ms Lydia Zigomo Nyatsanza who is in the country on a mission visit, has applauded Tariro Clinic and Youth Centre for coming through to offer a range of healthcare services as well as life-skills training to vulnerable groups in Hopley. By Michael Gwarisa Tariro Clinic and Youth Centre  was born out of a 2017 partnership between the UNFPA, ILO, Lafarge Holchim Cement and the City of Harare which aims to improve sexual reproductive health (SRHR) outcomes of…

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SADC Youth Helpline 393 Launched In Zimbabwe

IN a bid to bridge existing HIV information gaps and access to care for adolescents and young people, Youth Advocates Zimbabwe (YAZ), working with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and the National AIDS Council (NAC) have launched the SADC Youth Helpline to facilitate dialogue and openness between healthcare service providers and young people. By Michael Gwarisa The 393 Youth Helpline national contact center will be piloted in three districts in the SADC region namely, Francistown in Botswana, Zomba in Malawi and Zvishavane in Zimbabwe. The project also…

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UNFPA Zimbabwe calls for support to ensure young people reach their full potential

Harare, 12 August, 2022 – On the International Youth Day the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Zimbabwe and partners have called for greater support to ensure young people reach their full potential by making critical investments in their health, education and well-being. By Staff Reporter The theme for this year’s International Youth Day is Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages. In Zimbabwe, adolescents and youth are experiencing adverse life outcomes, including unintended early or teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and school dropouts. Early and teenage pregnancy have major…

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World Population To Hit 8 Billion Mark In November 2022

The United Nations announced that the world’s population is expected to reach 8 billion on 15 November 2022  – a milestone for humanity – and in 2023 India is projected to become the most populous country, surpassing China. But perhaps the even bigger headline is that fertility rates are at a historic low: Two thirds of people are now living in a country or area with a lifetime fertility below the replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman. By Own Correspondent These new data arrive at a time of dizzying…

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Zim In Youth Population Bulge: Is Zimbabwe Ready to Harness This Demographic Change?

THE 2022 Population and Housing Census preliminary results have since been released with latest figures showing that the country has witnessed an annual population growth rate of 1.5%. Zimbabwe’s population was at 7.5 million people in 1982 and the latest statistics shows that it has taken 40 years for Zimbabwe’s population to double. By Michael Gwarisa According to population and demographics experts, at the current population growth rate, it will take Zimbabwe probably about 15 years to double to about 30 million people. According to the latest 2022 population and…

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Zimbabwe Population Grows By 1.5 Percent

THE Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), has released preliminary results to the 2022 Population and Housing census which indicate a 1.5% grown rate in the country’s population. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Preliminary Results report, Zimbabwe witnessed a population change of 16.2% from 13.1 million in 2012 to 15,178 979 as at April 20, 2022. From the population size, (52%) were female, giving a sex ratio of 92 males for every 100 females. Given the 2012 population size of 13,061,329, this gives an annual population growth rate of 1.5…

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