Tag: WAG

Fresh Calls to Amend Zimbabwe’s 47-Year-Old Abortion Law Gather Momentum

Ntokozo Gudu

By Ntokozo Gudu Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) championing women and girls’ rights in Zimbabwe have called for the urgent amendment of the Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP), in order to reduce the high maternal deaths associated with unsafe abortions in the country. Zimbabwe is using a Termination of Pregnancy (ToP) Act that was enacted in 1977 which many Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) believe no longer serves the prevailing challenges faced by women and girls. According to the 1977 law, abortion is allowed under the restricted circumstances of rape,…

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WAG Ends 4-month Campaign Marking 40 Years Of Championing Women’s Rights

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The Women Action Group (WAG), an organization championing the rights of women and adolescents has ended its four-month campaign amidst calls by a cabinet minister to continue the fight against gender-based violence, while at the same time rallying for sexual reproductive health rights to mitigate child marriages and teenage marriages. Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa  in a speech read on her behalf by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Dr Mavis Sibanda said these ills against women, young women and adolescent girls…

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WAG Launches Four Months Long Campaign To Mark 40th Anniversary

Ntokozo Gudu

The Women’s Action Group (WAG) this year celebrates 40 years of championing the feminist movement in Zimbabwe in their quest to advance women’s rights and end abuse of women and girls in all spheres. By Ntokozo Gudu To celebrate the four decades WAG launched a four-month campaign with this year’s celebrations themed “WAG@40: We move on”. Speaking at the launch of the campaign on Wednesday, WAG executive director Mrs Edinah Masiyiwa said they will continue to fight for the uplifting and respect of a woman’s dignity. The formation of WAG…

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Economic Challenges Derail National TB Response

Patricia Mashiri

THE country’s continued woes are taking the National Tuberculosis (TB) response off rails as many people are failing to access TB screening and testing services, resulting in them presenting late at health facilities. By Patricia Mashiri The country has been recently removed from the TB high burden risk country but it however remains one of the country with high TB drug resistance. Speaking during a TB media café, Mrs Edna Masiyiwa, Director Women Action Group (WAG) said lack of funding was one of the problems why people get late diagnosis…

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Time to Mainstream COVID-19 into GBV and Women’s Rights programing

Healthtimes

In 2021, my nephew died of COVID-19. Just like so many relatives of more than 5,367 Zimbabweans[1] who have died during the nearly two-year pandemic, I was not able to participate in a funeral, wake, body viewing or funeral. These are all important rituals and I still feel sad when I think of how I not only lost him, but I also missed the chance to properly mourn him with loved ones. By Edinah Masiyiwa The pandemic and its outcomes have not only robbed us of our loved ones, but…

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#BREAKING: Police Arrest Bulawayo Couple For Aborting Pregnancy

Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have arrested a Bulawayo woman (20) and her boyfriend (27) for unlawfully aborting a pregnancy which resulted in the lady discharging a foetus inside a plastic bucket. By Michael Gwarisa Through their official micro-blogging account, the ZRP said they were also looking for the doctor who assisted the couple in terminating the pregnancy. The ZRP is investigating a case of unlawful termination of pregnancy in which a Bulawayo woman (20) conspired with her boyfriend (27) to terminate pregnancy. The two visited a private doctor who…

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Access To Safe Abortion Care Is A Health Need

Healthtimes

Recently, two bodies of newly born babies were found in a bin in Harare.[1] Due to a lack of accessible contraceptives during COVID-19, 5000 girls were reported to have fallen pregnant in January alone,[2] and sadly, the abandonment of unwanted babies is one of the outcomes. Unsafe abortions are another. The reality is, this could just be a tip of the iceberg of what is happening to women and girls as a result of their inability to access contraceptives. By Edinah Masiyiwa As the COVID-19 epidemic rages on, the health…

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WAG Uses The Safe-Engage Tool To Sensitize Nurses On Termination Of Pregnancy Act

Michael Gwarisa
WAG Executive Director Mrs Edinah Masiyiwa addresses the Zim Nurses Association at the sensitisation meeting

THE Women’s Action Group of Zimbabwe (WAG) is making use of the SAFE ENGAGE (Strengthening Evidence Based Policy to Expand Access to Safe Abortion) media tool to communicate the country’s illegal abortion scenario to various key stakeholders in a bid to raise awareness on Zimbabwe’s abortion situation as well as familiarize communities with the country’s Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP). By Michael Gwarisa Amongst some of the groups that have benefited from WAG’s sensitization programs are Senators, Parliamentarians, traditional leaders, midwives and recently nurses. Speaking during a half day SAFE…

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Child Marriages and Teen Pregnancies: Twin Evils Widening Opportunities Gap Between Boys and Girls in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa
Mashonaland Central Provincial Nursing Officer in the MoHCC, Anna Chinyemba

GROWING incidences of early marriages and Early Unintended Pregnancies (EUPs) that have also been exacerbated by the prevailing COVID-19 health emergency, have thrown girls and young women in an abyss of poverty, further making them vulnerable to various forms of abuse, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has warned. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Bindura According to statistics, there have been increased cases of teenage pregnancies during the COVID-19 induced lockdown period in Zimbabwe owing to a myriad of factors chief among them being the alarming rates of…

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Zim’s Termination Of Pregnancy Act Anti Women- Women CSOs

Patricia Mashiri

ZIMBABWE’S Termination of Pregnancy ACT is not only archaic but takes away women’s body autonomy and power to make decisions about their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), women led Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have said. By Patricia Mashiri According CSOs, the country’s Termination of Pregnancy ACT is not inclusive but dictates circumstances and conditions under which the pregnancy of a woman may be terminated. Ms Ednah Masiyiwa, Executive Director Women Action Group said the Termination of pregnancy Act is non-operational and does not meet the needs of the…

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