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Health Reporter
Zimbabwe today commemorated World Contraception Day with calls for continued investment to support access to quality-assured reproductive health and quality family planning commodities.
The theme for this year’s World Contraception Day was “Contraception – It’s your Life, It’s your responsibility”.
With support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Ministry of Health and Child Care through the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) has ensured improved access to family planning services for Zimbabweans.
The country has made great strides in increasing access to family planning services with about 80 percent of women’s demand for modern contraceptives being met.
However, the unmet need for young people is higher at 12,6 percent as compared to the national average of 10 percent.
This year’s World Contraception Day comes against a growing concern of high teenage pregnancy in the country.
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Speaking at the commemorations of the World Contraception Day in Gweru today, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora underscored the importance of raising awareness on the benefits of contraception.
“It should be noted that most young girls and women are faced with unprecedented challenges, among them high levels of unintended pregnancies which may result in unsafe abortions, school drop outs, and child marriages,” he said.
The Government and its partners recently launched the “Not-In-My-Village Campaign” which seeks to tackle teenage pregnancy by working closely with the communities and traditional leaders.
UNFPA representative Ms Miranda Tabifor said in a speech read on her behalf by the agency’s deputy representative Ms Navchaa Suren: “We commend the Government for allocating domestic resources for procurement of contraceptives.
“Although the progress is significant, more efforts are required to improve access to family planning services for those in remote areas and the most vulnerable groups, including young people and persons with disabilities.”
Zimbabwe National Family Council executive director Mr Farai Machinga commended the progress made in ensuring access to contraception.
“Today we join the world in celebrating key milestones that have been achieved with regards to contraception and also reflecting on the challenges, experiences, and areas of improvement as we work towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and Vision 2030 Agenda.”
Online Reporter