ZNFPC embarks on sex education in Manicaland
SYDNEY SAIZE IN MUTARE
As part of efforts to raise awareness about sexual and reproductive health and rights, the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) has embarked on an outreach in Manicaland Province.
The awareness comes at a time when teenage pregnancies are rampant across the country.
The ZNFPC Manicaland provincial manager, Dyson Masvingise, said the outreach is aimed at making the youths responsible for their sexuality.
“We are trying to make youths be responsible for their actions, particularly their sexuality.
“We want to ensure that there are no further child marriages, a thing that is prevalent and rife in Manicaland and this is a thing that we have witnessed and seen in the past weeks and we are actually fighting against that,’’ Masvingise said.
He added: “All youths are supposed to be in school and be free and away from sex and not be involved in marriages and the country’s statutes are clear in that they can actually have households in terms of getting married at 18 years and we are pinning on that.’’
Masvingise said the ZNFPC was working with other like-minded stakeholders on the program to ensure all youths are reached and engaged on the initiative.
“So we are working with stakeholders such as PSI, PSIZ and FACT so that the youths get prepared to see what is out there in the world,” Masvingise said.
He said the youths from within Mutare urban and its environs were welcome to visit their youth centre situated in the central business district for free counselling services and enjoy some other outdoor and indoor games on offer to keep them away from the peer pressure and other social vices.
Masvingise added that adults are also welcome to visit their other office in town to receive contraceptives and other methods of family planning as well as removing and inserting them for free, in addition to getting counselling as well.
