By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Zimbabwe His Excellency Edward Kallon believes knowledge sharing symposium provided a timely opportunity to amplify collective lessons drawn over the past five years of implementation of 2gether4SRHR.
In his speech, Mr Kallon said strong partnership supported East and Southern African countries to strengthen sexual and reproductive health.
“In Zimbabwe, a strong partnership has been developed between UN Agencies, Sida, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council, the National AIDS Council, and several civil society organisations as we worked together to implement the programme,” he said.
These achievements should not end here but continue under the Zimbabwe UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework which began implementation in earnest this year and collaborate across the entire region to deliver the SADC SRHR strategy and scorecard.
Mr Kallon shared perspectives to do more in advancing SRHR:
“First, all stakeholders should continue joined-up efforts to ensure sexual and reproductive rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled as part of COVID-19 socio-economic recovery and measures to address menstrual hygiene poverty, sexual and gender-based violence, child marriages and teenage pregnancy.
“Second, ensuring girls receive the right healthcare and facilitate the right environment for girls to grow up with greater self-confidence and bodily autonomy.
“In this regard, Governments must take measures to destigmatize sexual reproductive and health right services that ensure a step towards gender equality.
“This should also include the importance of involving men and educating boys on gender equality to play their fair share including in household chores.
“Third, all stakeholders together with and led by Governments should ensure all SRHR services including family planning and antenatal care are affordable for all women and girls, particularly those living in poverty.
“Four, ensuring all girls have access to school and remain in school. When girls are educated, they are more likely to lead healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.
“Many girls and young women had their education ended by the COVID-19 pandemic. We must get them back to school.
“Education is the ticket for girls to understand and stand for their rights, including the right to live without the threat of violence and to stay safe and report abuse,” Mr Kallon said.
He hoped that the knowledge sharing symposium would be instrumental in improving access to life-saving sexual reproductive health, HIV and GBV services for the most vulnerable groups in our society, in Zimbabwe and the entire East and Southern Africa Region.
“I am cognizant of the many challenges we face. However, we should work with the grit and will to intensify action to deliver for women and girls.
The UN Development System in Zimbabwe remains committed in this regard,” Mr Kallon said.
“As the UN Secretary General in his statement on the International Day of the Girl Child said, “let’s redouble our efforts to make sure women and girls everywhere are healthy, educated, and safe.”
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