ZNFPC and SAYWHAT Unite to Boost Youth Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

By Kuda Pembere The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) and the Students and Youth Working on Reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday to improve access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and rights for adolescents and young people in Zimbabwe. ZNFPC’s Director of Technical Services, Mercy Marimirofa, stated during the signing ceremony that the MoU would enable the two organizations to share research findings and address challenges faced by young people in accessing SRH services. The collaboration will also focus on…

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Zimbabwe Sex Workers Resort to Baby Socks Amid Condom Shortages In Communities

By Michael Gwarisa Sex workers in Zimbabwe claim they have resorted to using unconventional methods, including baby socks, as contraceptives due to condom shortages in some communities. While the government denies any national shortage, localized supply issues have been reported. These shortages are attributed to several factors, including delayed restocking by health facilities, hoarding by some sex workers, and healthcare workers allegedly misappropriating condoms. Communities such as Epworth, Mutare, Masvingo, Harare, and Seke have been particularly affected, with sex workers raising alarms about the dire situation. Speaking to HealthTimes, Precious…

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UNFPA Zimbabwe Hands Over 19 Vehicles To Strategic Partners

By Kuda Pembere The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has handed over 19 vehicles to its partners to enable them to do their work in reaching out to vulnerable populations as well as the youth. The handing over of these vehicles is part of its five year program cycle where they get vehicles for partners and hand them over at the end of the program. At the end of that country program cycle, we actually hand over the equipment that has been purchased during the course of the country program.…

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Albert Nyathi, Adiona Chidzonga Appointed Family Planning Brand Ambassadors

By Michael Gwarisa Renowned poet and musician Albert Nyathi and Songstress, Adiona Chidzonga, have been re-appointed brand ambassadors for the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), in a move that is set to boost the uptake of Family planning services in Zimbabwe. Nyathi and Adiona’s contracts will run for one year with the possibility of renewal. Adiona’s role as ZNFPC brand ambassador commenced in 2018 and the council has been renewing it over years. Nyathi’s role involves being a Male Motivator, whose sole mandate is to raise awareness on Family…

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Zimbabwean Men Shun Vasectomy

By Michael Gwarisa Uptake of Vasectomy as a contraceptive, and Family Planning method remains depressed among Zimbabwean men, HealthTimes has learnt. A vasectomy (male sterilisation), is a surgical procedure to cut or seal the tubes that carry a man’s sperm to permanently prevent pregnancy. Speaking during an event to mark the renewal of contracts for Zimbabwe Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) brand Ambassador and Male Motivator, ZNFPC Executive Director, Mr Farai Machinga said more females were now taking up Tubal Ligation (a surgical procedure for female sterilization which involves severing and…

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ZNFPC, City Of Harare Use Sport To Fight GBV and HIV In Young People

IN an effort to eradicate new HIV infections, teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence (GBV) in communities, the Harare City Council in partnership with the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) have introduced youths games to keep young people engaged. By Patricia Mashiri The games include soccer, netball and traditional games such as nhodo, tsoro and other . Speaking during the games which took place in Mbare over the weekend, Mrs Calista Kaseke, Harare City Council Community Services Officer based in Mabvuku said the games are aimed at reducing idleness in…

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ZNFPC Engages Parliament Over Teen Pregnancies And Child Marriages

THE Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) has met the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education where they presented challenges faced by adolescents and young people in accessing Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services. By Patricia Mashiri The meeting was a precursor to the numerous other assemblies scheduled for the no so distant future where they intend to find lasting solutions to the growing burden of early child marriages and teenage pregnancies. In her presentation,Fadzai Mandishona, the ZNFPC Programme Officer Adolescents Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) said there was need…

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Teen Pregnancies and Early Marriages Rear Ugly Head in Zim’s Farming Communities

IT’S a normal day inside Sable Ranch, a farming community at least 6 kilometers outside Marondera town in Mashonaland East province. Since its tobacco planting season, majority of labourers have been sent on a two-week long leave to give the tobacco plant enough time to grow. Just like their parents, school children at Ranch Farm and other surrounding farming communities are attending school just twice every week to adhere to government set COVID-19 prevention protocols. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Marondera, Mashonaland East While the adults have capitalized on the…

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ZNFPC, Partners Launches HIV Prevention Program For Young Girls and Women

IN a move that is meant to reduce new HIV infections in young people in Southern Africa, the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) and its partners Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) and Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA) have introduced a project that will integrate HIV prevention methods with Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and their partners. By Patricia Mashiri The USD$100 872.00 SADC member countries resource mobilization initiative, is a two year funded project which is aimed at building capacity for…

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Efficient Resource Utilisation Could Alleviate SRH Challenges Faced By Adolescents – Family Planning Brand Ambassador

GOVERNMENT and implementing partners in the adolescent and youth reproductive health sector should efficiently utilise available resources to lessen reproductive health challenges faced by youths especially girls and young women, Family Planning Brand Ambassador, Adiona Chidzonga has called. Own Correspondent Fielding questions from the media, in Mutare at Mutare Youth Centre, Mrs Chidzonga said there is urgent need for all stakeholders in family planning and reproductive health sector in Manicaland to start to pull in the same direction for the benefit of adolescents and youth in the province. With the…

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