Online Reporter
Walter Nyamukondiwa
Government departments and youth-centred organisations are meeting in Darwendale to strategise on the implementation of the “Not in My Village Campaign”, an initiative aimed at reducing teenage pregnancies in Mashonaland West Province.
The meeting comes amid alarming statistics indicating that teenagers account for at least 20 percent of all pregnancy bookings at health institutions across the province’s seven districts.
Hurungwe District has the highest teenage pregnancy rate at 24 percent, followed by Chegutu at 22 percent.
To address this issue, Hurungwe and Chegutu will receive support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to implement the campaign in collaboration with the National AIDS Council (NAC) and the Government.
The campaign will also involve key partners such as Safeguard Young People (SYP) and the Young People’s Network on Health and Wellbeing (YPNHW).
Meanwhile, NAC will support the remaining five districts in tackling teenage pregnancies.
The meeting is focused on identifying and addressing key drivers of teenage pregnancies, including negative religious practices, the influence of the internet, drug and substance abuse, poverty, cultural norms, and gaps in parenting.
NAC’s acting provincial manager, Mrs Rumbidzai Manatsa said there is need for a concerted effort to combat teenage pregnancies and child marriages.
The Not In My Village Campaign is a youth-led initiative by the YPNHW, with financial and technical support from NAC and UNFPA Zimbabwe through the Safeguard Young People Programme and Together for SRHR.
