By Conrad Mwanawashe
Zimbabwe has more than one million child brides, over 85,000 adolescents between 10 & 19 living with HIV while 47% of adolescents are out of school.
These statistics have jolted UNICEF to launch a campaign to run with the slogan: Nothing for us, without us!
The “Communication Campaign on Adolescents” will run from October to December 2023 and will highlight the multiple deprivations adolescents face.
It will target any person aged between 10 and 19 years who make up 12% of the total population or 1.8 million Zimbabwe’s 15.2 million people.
The campaign will highlight the situation of adolescents, their power as actors of change in their communities and the programme work done by UNICEF, the Government of Zimbabwe and their partners for adolescents to address their needs.
One the deprivations that the campaign seeks to attack relates to adolescent pregnancies, which Jacqueline Kabambe, UNICEF Chief, HIV/AIDS and Adolescent Development & Participation, said is a “high concern” that must be articulated.
“Adolescent pregnancy, child bearing of 22% is something of a high concern that we must articulate, One third of maternal deaths are among adolescent mothers,” said Kabambe.
“UNICEF is supporting government to put together a framework for the Prevention and Management of Adolescent Pregnancies. Together with other UN Agencies we generated evidence by carrying out a study and the recommendations from that study are going to help us to put together a robust programme for prevention and management of adolescent pregnancies so that we can reduce the numbers of these pregnancies. The fewer the pregnancies the fewer maternal among adolescent girls and few school dropouts. Above all these adolescent girls will reach their full potential,” she added.
UNICEF said adolescents represent the future of the country but they face multiple deprivations, including poverty, high rates of adolescent pregnancies, child marriages, maternal deaths, physical and sexual violence, HIV infection, school dropout and limited engagement and participation opportunities in matters that affect their lives and their families.
All of these impede adolescent development, especially the cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioural capacities that support health and well-being.
“UNICEF Zimbabwe works in close collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe and partners to advance the development and participation of adolescents in matters affecting them and to ensure adolescents, especially adolescent girls, those with disabilities and the most vulnerable, are empowered and equipped with knowledge, skills and opportunities to become socially and economically resilient,” said Kabambe.
In its work for adolescents, UNICEF Zimbabwe prioritises five cross-sectoral strategic interventions:
Prevention and Management of Adolescent Pregnancies;
(ii) Support of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and HIV/AIDS for Adolescent Girls;
(iii) Promotion of skills, entrepreneurship and employability;
(iv) tackle substance and drug abuse; and
(v) Stimulate adolescent participation.
Zimbabwe has made progress in addressing matters affecting adolescents. Notable accomplishments include the recent passing of the Marriages Act, which prohibits the marriage of minors under the age of 18.
The Education Amendment Act has provisions for school retention for pregnant girls and adolescent mothers, free primary education, abolishment of corporal punishment and free sanitary wear for girls in primary and secondary schools. The country has a Youth Policy and Strategy which prioritises participation and economic development, including skills development for employability.
“Since adolescents represent the country’s future, one of the most important commitments a country can make for future economic, social and political progress is to address their developmental needs. Early adolescence, between the ages of 10 and 14, is a particular age when enduring healthy behaviour patterns can be developed. Developing healthy habits from the start is more accessible than changing risky behaviours that are already entrenched,” she said.
