Zimbabwe -Youths collaborate towards accessible reproductive healthcare

Health By Richard Farekaye
Sep 21, 2024

YOUTH-LED organisation My Age Zimbabwe on Wednesday hosted an Open House ahead of the International Safe Abortion Day commemorations, an event which brought together parliamentarians, stakeholders, young women, and girls, creating a platform for critical discussions on the milestones achieved and ongoing challenges regarding access to safe abortion services in Zimbabwe.

The International Safe abortion Day is an annual day of action commemorated annually on September 28 in support of the right to safe abortion.

Continued: https://www.newsday.co.zw/theindependent/amp/health/article/200032590/youths-collaborate-towards-accessible-reproductive-healthcare

21.09.2024

News

International Safe Abortion Day

Josiah Makombe

My Age Zimbabwe

Tendaishe Changamire

Termination of Pregnancy Act

Zimbabwe’s Review of Restrictive Abortion Laws

Activists are calling for a review of a decades-old abortion law to increase protections for women and girls

by Derick Matsengarwodzi
June 20, 2024

The Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP Act), passed in 1977, has been increasingly attacked by human rights activists, victims, and legislators because it minimizes access to reproductive health for vulnerable women and girls in Zimbabwe.

Activists are calling for a review of the act and amendments to include rape within a marriage, access to safe abortion, and reproductive health.

Continued: https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/zimbabwes-review-restrictive-abortion-laws

Zimbabwe – Lawmaker pushes for easier access to safe abortion

Sikhumbuzo Moyo
June 3, 2024

HWANGE Central MP, Mr Daniel Molokele, ignited a fiery debate in Parliament last week over the country’s Termination of Pregnancy Act, enacted in 1977. Mr Molokele called for a complete repeal of the law, citing its violation of the Constitution’s promotion of gender equality and placing women in dangerous situations.

“We have a law called the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977. It is one of the oldest laws in this country that is long overdue. It does not need to be amended, it needs to be repealed. It is possibly violating the Constitution of this country in terms of the clauses that speak to the promotion of gender equality,” said Mr. Molokele.

Continued: https://www.chronicle.co.zw/lawmaker-pushes-for-easier-access-to-safe-abortion/#google_vignette

03.06.2024

News

1977 Termination of Pregnancy Act

Amend abortion laws: Experts

By Vanessa Gonye
Nov. 14, 2023

HEALTH experts have called for unsafe abortion to be considered a public health concern by amending laws on abortion. Zimbabwe records an estimated 80 000 unsafe abortions annually.

Speaking to NewsDay, My Age Zimbabwe director Onward Gibson said unsafe abortions were contributing to maternal deaths, infertility, among other health threats. “There is urgent need to improve access to comprehensive reproductive health services, including contraception, family planning, and comprehensive sexuality education, which can help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and subsequently lower the demand for abortions,” he said.

Continued: https://www.newsday.co.zw/theindependent/local-news/article/200019498/amend-abortion-laws-experts

14.11.2023

News

1977 Termination of Pregnancy Act

Community Working Group on Health

Zimbabwe – Cooperation needed in dealing with illegal abortions

9 Sep 2022

The illegal abortion services through online platforms should be put to a stop immediately and individuals behind the practice arrested and prosecuted.

this paper reported on Tuesday that while abortion is illegal in the country, the dodgy individuals demand up to US$100 for pills to induce termination of pregnancies with promises of further treatment to clean the womb.

Continued: https://www.chronicle.co.zw/comment-co-operation-needed-in-dealing-with-illegal-abortions/

09.09.2022

Mpilo Central Hospital

Zimbabwe – ZNFPC Lobbies For Review Of Termination Of Pregnancy Act

By Fadzai Ndangana
Nov 30, 2021

Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) is lobbying to change the terms of the Termination of Pregnancy Act to reduce maternal death caused by unsafe abortions.

Although Zimbabwe has achieved many public health successes in areas that were once deemed controversial and challenging, too many Zimbabwean women are still dying from one of the leading causes of maternal deaths, particularly unsafe abortion.

Continued: https://www.263chat.com/znfpc-lobbies-for-review-of-termination-of-pregnancy-act/

30.11.2021

Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council

Backyard Abortions: Zimbabwe’s Silent Pandemic

By Lovejoy Mutongwiza
Oct 20, 2021

The
COVID-19 pandemic which brought about lockdown restrictions has further
restricted women and girls’ access to safe abortion services in traditionally
marginalized communities in Zimbabwe.

With COVID-19
restrictions, obtaining the necessary appointments and documents to access
health facilities has become a nightmare, especially for women in poor areas
and this has aided the need for most women and girls who fell pregnant,
unintentionally or otherwise, to Nicodemusly seek the termination of
pregnancies.

Continued: https://www.263chat.com/backyard-abortions-zimbabwes-silent-pandemic/

Zimbabwe: Push to Review Abortion Legislation

27 SEPTEMBER 2021
The Herald (Harare)
By Edinah Masiyiwa

Two bodies of newly born babies were found in a bin in Harare, recently.

Because of the lack of accessible contraceptives during Covid-19, 5 000 girls were reported to have fallen pregnant in January alone, and sadly, the abandonment of unwanted babies is one of the outcomes.

Unsafe abortions are another. The reality is, this could just be a tip of the iceberg of what is happening to women and girls as a result of their inability to access contraceptives.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202109270217.html

27.09.2021

Featured

News

abortion law reform

Covid-19 and abortion

Dr Ruth Labode

sexual and reproductive health and rights

Termination of Pregnancy Act

Zimbabwe – Illegal abortions to be tackled

Precious Manomano,o Herald Reporter
12 July 2021

Cases of illegal abortions are on the increase and posing a serious health threat to women and young girls.

Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises and other stakeholders are conducting awareness campaigns with the thrust to invoke women to stand up and avert abortion.

Continued: https://www.herald.co.zw/illegal-abortions-to-be-tackled/

12.07.2021

Featured

News

Maria Chiwera

Termination of Pregnancies Act

Zimbabwe – Unsafe abortions a major public health concern

Muchaneta Chimuka
21 January 2021

Unsafe abortion cases are rife among youth
and adults in Zimbabwe owing to high medical costs, restrictive abortion laws
and lack of or inadequate youth friendly clinics that offers sexual
reproductive health services, negative attitudes by service providers towards
patients, lack of knowledge on how and where to seek services among others.

The 2020 #VoiceandChoice Barometer notes that 24 percent of all pregnancies in
Southern Africa end in abortion.

Continued: https://www.chronicle.co.zw/unsafe-abortions-a-major-public-health-concern/