Mashonaland Central Province is emerging as a shocking hotspot for teenage pregnancies. Officials have sounded the alarm, revealing that the province holds the dubious distinction of having the highest rate in the country, a situation described as a significant threat to the growth and development of young people.
Fadzai Makosa, the Adolescent Sexual Health Reproductive Programs Officer for the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), presented the troubling statistics at a recent meeting. She confirmed that while Mashonaland Central leads with a rate of 37 percent, Mashonaland West follows closely behind at 31 percent. In stark contrast, Bulawayo records the lowest figure at just 13 percent.
Mashonaland Central As Leading Hotspot For Teenage Pregnancies
With the national adolescent pregnancy rate standing at 23 percent and youths constituting just over 32 percent of the population, the scale of the challenge is immense. Makosa did not mince her words, stating,
“So, we have a challenge in terms of adolescent pregnancy.” She directly appealed to the media, saying, “As members of the media, you have a duty to help us raise awareness on the dangers of having sexual activities too early, what we call early sexual debut.”
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She elaborated on the need for a multifaceted support system for the youth.
“It’s a challenge to young people. We need to support them with various programs that includes comprehensive sexuality education and parent to child communication,” Makosa said.
She also highlighted the long-term consequences, noting that a pregnancy at a tender age can cause numerous future challenges.
A Call to Action for the Entire Community
Echoing the urgency, Anne Mugwagwa, the Zimbabwe African Union Youth Representative, framed the issue as a catastrophic theft of childhood. She lamented that while many girls are still playing with toys and dreaming of their futures, nearly one in three in Mashonaland West is being forced into motherhood prematurely.
“Adolescent pregnancy is not just a health issue; it is a crisis stealing the future of our girls,” Mugwagwa declared.
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She issued a powerful call to action, demanding concrete steps from society.
“It is high time the youths demand access to youth-friendly reproductive health services in every district. There is a need to introduce comprehensive sexuality education that empowers, not shames,” she stated.
Mugwagwa was emphatic that responsibility must be shared widely, adding,
“This is not just a women’s issue. It is a community crisis. Fathers, brothers, teachers, pastors, traditional leaders—all must rise and protect our daughters.”
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The post Statistics Reveal Mashonaland Central As Leading Hotspot For Teenage Pregnancies appeared first on iHarare News.
