‘No more child marriages, GBV’
HAVING already ensured that most Zimbabweans who want access to family planning have that access and having taken ever more effective action against abusers of the rights of women and girls while improving women’s health, Zimbabwe wants the world to redouble its efforts in the same direction.
Speaking briefly after the official opening of the International Conference on Family Planning, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Constantino Chiwenga, said Zimbabwe and indeed many other countries were doing their part in population management, the availing of sexual reproductive health services to citizens as well as the general improvement of meeting the health needs of girls and women.
However, noted the VP, desired results need a concerted global approach from all member states and the ICFP should be a platform for global re-commitment and a global pledge to achieving the desired goals.
“After this meeting we must all carry home a message that no more should there be child marriages,” said VP Chiwenga.
“No more should there be gender-based violence. No more should there be any deaths recorded whilst one is giving birth.
“To do this we all have to carry a message of educating our people throughout the world. The communities where we are going to be working, on how we should protect young girls and women.
But we need also to bring in the boys and men so that this sinks home.”
In his official speech, VP Chiwenga highlighted some of the intervention strategies that Zimbabwe is employing in its sexual reproductive health strategy which others might consider employing.
These include, but are not limited to increasing access to family planning services for people living with disabilities as well as assessment of access to and uptake of integrated menstrual health and hygiene management services by women.
He also highlighted that there needs to be international collaboration on addressing the trend of developing countries’ losing skilled health personnel to the developed world after spending resources on training.
World Health Organisation Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, who addressed the conference virtually, said reproductive healthcare is a key component of primary healthcare and urged governments to treat it seriously.
“Quality family planning and reproductive health and rights are essential components of universal health coverage and primary healthcare,” said Dr Ghebreyesus.
“WHO is working round the world to support countries with family planning programmes including supporting 96 countries to update their national clinical practice guidelines.
“We remain committed to working with all of you to expand access to services for family planning and reproductive health.”