Philemon Jambaya
On September 26, 2023, Katswe Sistahood, a women’s rights organisation in Zimbabwe, celebrated World Contraception Day in Epworth, a suburb of Harare with support from Diakonia and Amplify Change. The event was held to raise awareness of the importance of contraception and safe abortions and access to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, and to provide women and girls with access to these essential services.
The event was attended by over 100 women and girls, as well as representatives from the government and other NGOs. Speakers at the event included representatives from Katswe Sistahood, PSZ and MSF.
The speakers emphasised the importance of contraception and safe abortions for women’s and girls’ health and well-being. They also spoke about the challenges that women and girls in Zimbabwe face in accessing these services, and the need for more to be done to ensure that all women and girls have access to the sexual and reproductive health care they need.
After the speeches, there was a question-and-answer session where women and girls were able to ask questions about contraception and safe abortions. The speakers provided clear and accurate information, and dispelled many of the myths and misconceptions that surround these issues.
The event was a success in raising awareness of the importance of contraception and safe abortions, and in providing women and girls with access to essential information and services. Katswe Sistahood is committed to continuing to work to ensure that all women and girls in Zimbabwe have access to the sexual and reproductive health care they need.
Issues of safe abortions in Zimbabwe
Unsafe abortions are a major public health problem in Zimbabwe. According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 70 000 women and girls in Zimbabwe have unsafe abortions each year. Unsafe abortions are a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity in Zimbabwe, accounting for an estimated 13% of maternal deaths.
There are a number of reasons why women and girls in Zimbabwe resort to unsafe abortions. One reason is that legal access to abortion is very restricted. Abortion is only legal in Zimbabwe to save the life of the mother or to protect her physical or mental health. However, this law is often interpreted very narrowly, and many women and girls who need abortions are unable to access them legally.
Another reason why women and girls in Zimbabwe resort to unsafe abortions is that they are often unaware of their legal rights or where to access safe abortion services. Even when women and girls are aware of their legal rights and where to access safe abortion services, they may not be able to access them due to financial constraints or stigma.
Katswe Sistahood is working to address the issue of unsafe abortions in Zimbabwe by providing women and girls with information about their legal rights and where to access safe abortion services. Katswe Sistahood is also working to advocate for the liberalisation of Zimbabwe’s abortion law to make it easier for women and girls to access safe and legal abortions.
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