Sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) advocates have expressed worry over the rise in teenage pregnancies as indicated in the 2024 Demographic Health Survey, which says the cases have risen by 32 percent from 29 in 2016.
During a national a workshop that Restless Development Zimbabwe organised in collaboration with Youth Advocates and Ministry of Healtk in Lilongwe recently, numerous stakeholders said there is need to remove barriers to SRHR service delivery to contain the situation.
The meeting focused on Bast and Southern Africa commitments concerning adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
Ministry of Health Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health Deputy Director Hans Katengeza said there is a need for collaboration to address the issue.
In his remarks, Youth Advocates executive director Tatenda Sondolc said there is a need to intensify campaigns ensuring young people have access to SRHR services.
On her part, Cecilia Mpande, a youth advocate under Restless Development, said stakeholders need to move beyond policy discussions and engage directly with communities.
“We need to take these conversations deep into the rural areas; we need to speak with the youth themselves instead of holding panel discussions,” she said.
