By NEVSON MPOFU.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – The World every year on 11 July celebrates World Population Day .This year it was under the theme, Family Planning is a Human Rights.
This is in line with some International protocols like the UN Universal Declaration for Human Rights of 1948 and the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against Women of 1979. [CEDAW]
The day focuses attention on the importance of taking stock of our population and matching it at Global level with the available Health services for Population Health. United Nations Population Fund takes the role to address population and family planning services for the well-being of the Global population at 7 billion. UNFPA ,work towards reducing poverty through knowledge of sexual reproductive health rights, HIV and AIDS, child spacing and sex and sexuality for young women.
Addressing Media in Harare at the United Nations Information Centre, Esther Muia said the media has always played a big role in disseminating information on family planning. She said Family Planning stands vital because it is a Human Right.
‘’Media is important because it has done its job over time especially on Family Planning .Family Planning remains and still stands vital because it was affirmed Globally to be a Human Right in 1968 at the International Conference on Human Rights.
‘’Parents have basic Human Right to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children. Family Planning is therefore not about limiting couples but allowing couples the choice on when to have children, the number and how to space them.
According to the UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND, International Conference on Population and Development and the International Planned Parenthood Federation, family planning is essential in overcoming poverty . The Country Representative further said poverty is created mostly when individuals cannot choose the size of their family.
‘’ Family Planning reduces poverty .As UNFPA, we are bent towards welcoming communities which have information about family planning , sexual reproductive health rights and sex and sexuality.
‘’On the other hand ,family planning improves Health and well-being while reducing poverty and empowering women. This leads to poverty reduction’’, she said.
Speaking at the same occasion Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council Dr Murwira pointed crucial issues related to geographical areas and the distribution of family planning services around the country . He said there are several challenges which need to be addressed in order for the country to win on some goals related on Health , Improved Communities , better cities Environment and Education.
Centrally his point was to say certain geographical areas face certain challenges not faced in other areas. Many people in rural areas like marginalized communities do not get some services. Some of them are not reachable .Culture, Tradition, Religion and African customs are still resonating as main challenges.
‘’The challenge is daunting to the country because Zimbabwe is still developing. We face health problems because of a set of reasons related to lack of extended knowledge on Health, being geographically marginalized and low Health service delivery. At most we have been shaped badly by culture, tradition and religion. However, Zimbabwe has done far much better than some other countries in the developing world.
‘’We have low contraception use in the Southern Region of the country like in Matabeleland South Province. This is because of social and cultural values. Many people are still impacted by culture and tradition. Religion as well despite higher levels of Education contributes.
‘’Because the Region is close to South Africa, there is vast male movement in the region .As a result women are left alone at home . Even women travel to other countries where they get engaged in commercial activities in Small to Medium Enterprises.
‘’Lastly in my conclusion , Public Health facilities lack so much since the province has some areas still very marginalized , close to border areas of South Africa and Botswana . Mashonaland Central has high birth rate in the country, mainly this could be caused by low education levels since colonially this has been a farming community ‘’.
Dr Murwira also stressed that Fertility Rate is much low in two big cities like Harare and Bulawayo. This he said is because of the main difference between developed and non-developed communities. Most educated people are based in cities like Harare and Bulawayo.
‘’In fact urban women are more empowered than rural women. Therefore urban women have no problems in terms of information because of access to various media. They get these services from nearest facility centers for free .Bear in mind that Civil Society is centered like in the two main Cities, that is Harare and Bulawayo.
Fertility Rate is very low in the two cities because of education levels which are high in urban than rural communities. Secondly, urban people have access to finance for better survival because of access to basic resources and better life standards. Thirdly, nutrition levels are high and reachable. Dr Murwira stressed on the need to do programs to benefit communities through outreaches.
‘’We need to balance the two . We need to framework and strategize on developing programs meant to benefit especially women in rural areas have access to contraception for free . The marginalized ones must be identified and given these Health services free of charge’’ he said.
Ministry of Health and Child Care Family Health Director Dr Bernard Madzima said family planning provision is a task of the Government and for real it has done it.
‘’Let us allow couples to have choices when to have children. We are not talking of reducing the number but let us allow them to have choices and have children when they want.
‘’The Zimbabwe Contraceptive Prevalence Rate is the best in the Region. The country prevalence rate on contraceptive use is at 67% .In 2010, it was at 59% . We are still moving on as a country to make it better than ever before .’’
Unmet needs for family planning among married couples is 10% in urban areas and 11% in rural areas .The figures show at least big change as compared to the past years and as well compared with other developing countries .The unmet needs of the young people is at 12% in the country.
Comments
About Author
