Harmonise education, health policies: Govt urged

have access to health services and information.
Addressing journalists at a media training workshop on sexual and reproductive health in Kadoma yesterday, Zimbabwe National Family Planning Association co-ordinator Mr Brian Nachipo said there were some contradictions in the education and health policies, which militate against adolescents being empowered to get information and services.

“Young people are engaging in sexual activities at an early age and it is folly on our part as adults to look the other way. The education policy wants children to be equipped with information while referring any arising matters to be handled by the Health Act which in turn does not provide for friendly ways of getting services for the youths,” he said.
The health policy calls for health for all but condoms are not allowed in schools.

Mr Nachipo said adolescents’ rights were not guaranteed in the Constitution.
He called for the consolidation of various policies to address adolescents’ needs such as the right to seek and receive reproductive healthcare at clinics despite their age.
Ms Primrose Faku, a youth representative from Gweru, said information and education on preventative measures against contracting diseases were key in ensuring that youths were not left out.

“It is better to know that your child is having protected sex than have them do it without protection because they have no access to preventative services such as condoms.
“This has given rise to HIV infections and unwanted pregnancies among youths,” she said.
She said there was total breakdown of communication between parents and their children resulting from rigid cultural beliefs that are at a tangent with modern day adolescents.

“We have needs as children, especially the girl child and if those needs, like buying sanitary pads are not met we end up getting them from elsewhere.
“This results in children engaging in prostitution and other vices. Communication is important,” she said.

The issue sparked heated debate on the feasibility and morality of introducing condoms in schools with others arguing that it will promote sexual immorality among youths while others said sex in schools was a reality which needed to be tackled head on.

SafAids information officer Mrs Beatrice Tonhodzayi-Ngondo said the community was reactive when it comes to issues to do with sexuality because it only castigates a child when things go wrong without opening up to children about reproductive health.

“Society is only vocal when a child falls pregnant or falls ill but they do not want to talk about these issues with their children so that they have the right information on what responsibilities they have to shoulder when it comes to sex,” she said.