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Mkhululi Ncube, [email protected]
The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has launched a sexual reproductive health and rights programme to address health issues affecting youth who are out of school in four selected provinces.

The programme will be implemented in Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mangwe District in Matabeleland South Province, and Bubi District in Matabeleland North Province.

Speaking during a media workshop on Friday, CWGH programmes officer, Ms Mandy Mathias, said the programme is supported by Amplified Change.

“The project is called Amplifying the Youth Voice: Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health for Young People in Zimbabwe. We are targeting 18-35-year-old out-of-school youths,” she said.

Ms Mathias said the programme seeks to ensure that young people’s needs are heard, understood, and addressed.

“This will lead to improved sexual and reproductive health outcomes, increased funding for sexual and reproductive health, and the development of policies and interventions that are appreciative and responsive to the needs of young people,” she said.

Ms Mathias added that the project also seeks to create an enabling environment where young people’s health needs and rights are prioritised, allowing them to access quality sexual and reproductive health services for a healthier and brighter future.

She said they also aim to improve the responsiveness of policies and programmes to young people’s needs, resulting in improved outcomes through strengthening the capacities of youth-led and youth-focused organisations.

“This time, we are not working directly with young people as individuals, but we are identifying youth groups or youth-led organisations in the targeted areas,” said Ms Mathias.

“We will build their capacity so that they can advocate for improved sexual and reproductive health services. We will also engage duty-bearers and decision-makers to increase their knowledge of sexual and reproductive health.”

Ms Mathias said the programme will also involve the training and capacitation of media personnel on advocating for improved sexual and reproductive health, as the media play an important role in enhancing sexual and reproductive health.

The CWGH said there are several issues the media needs to engage with that affect the sexual and reproductive health of youths.

During the workshop, journalists were urged to collaborate with lawmakers to ensure sexual and reproductive health issues receive the attention they deserve.

Some of the issues include maternal mortality, teenage pregnancies, and termination of pregnancies, among others.

The discussion comes at a time when the Senate recently debated the need to update the country’s laws on the termination of pregnancies. The debate was prompted by rising cases of illegal abortions, some of which are attributed to a lack of awareness about existing laws.