Zimbabwe women cry over unwanted pregnancies during lockdown
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Zimbabwe women cry over unwanted pregnancies during lockdown

WOMEN have raised concern over the potential increase of unwanted pregnancies, amid indications that access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services has been difficult during the lockdown period.
Due to Covid-19 and subsequent lockdown, most women feel access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services has been compromised as most health facilities seem to have sidelined the services, leaving women at risk of having unwanted pregnancies.
A survey carried out by ZBC News in Zimunya, Manicaland Province revealed that women are worried that by the end of the lockdown period, most will have to bear the brunt of unwanted pregnancies.
“Honestly access to contraceptives during this lockdown period is problematic because at the clinics they are saying they are only dealing with emergencies hence we are going to have a challenge of unwanted pregnancies because we have no access to contraceptives as it is expensive for us to go and buy in pharmacies because we do not have the money,” said one of the women.
Some came up with suggestions as to how the challenges can be resolved during the lockdown period.
“Clinics should have a separate desk that deals with issues of contraceptives during this lockdown down period because it is unfair to be sent back home without being helped because they think contraceptives are not emergencies.”
“I think health workers should be tasked to go to the people with contraceptives during this time because it is our right to have access to sexual and reproductive health services,” suggested one woman.
Sexual and reproductive health services seem to have been sidelined during the COVID-19 induced lockdown, yet women and girls continue to require family planning, menstrual health supplies, maternal health care and information. -zbc

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