The maternal mortality ratio is unacceptably high in Africa. Forty per cent of all pregnancy-related deaths worldwide occur in Africa. On average, over 7 women die per 1,000 live births. About 22,000 African women die each year from unsafe abortion, reflecting a high unmet need for contraception. Contraceptive use among women in union varies from 50 per cent in the southern sub-region to less than 10 per cent in middle and western Africa" UNFPA
Early and unwanted childbearing, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and pregnancy-related illnesses and deaths account for a significant proportion of the burden of illness experienced by women in Africa. Gender-based violence is an influential factor negatively impacting on the sexual and reproductive health of one in every three women. Many are unable to control decisions to have sex or to negotiate safer sexual practices, placing them at great risk of disease and health complications.
According to UNAIDS, there is an estimated of 22.2 million people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan African in 2009, which represents 68% of the global HIV burden. Women are at higher risk than men to be infected by HIV, their vulnerability remains particulary high in the Sub-Saharan Africa and 76% of all HIV women in the world live in this region.
In almost all countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, the majority of people living with HIV are women, especially girls and women aged between 15-24. Not only are women more likely to become infected, they are more severely affected. Their income is likely to fall if an adult man loses his job and dies. Since formal support to women are very limited, they may have to give up some income-genrating activities or sacrifice school to take care of the sick relatives.
For more information on HIV/AIDS and Reproductive health, please visit the following websites:
Source: Awareness Times
An International Non-governmental Organization, Ipas, on Monday 23rd June 2014, commenced a two day workshop for over 35 Members of the Press Gallery at Parliament in Freetown. The organization which seeks to promote women’s sexual reproductive health and rights, delivered the training on ‘understanding and reporting women’s sexual reproductive health and rights for effective as well as accurate reporting’.
Source: Daily Maverick
On Tuesday night, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini gave a speech which may not get the attention it deserves. It has been exceedingly rare in recent years for a South African politician to stand up and unequivocally, unapologetically affirm a woman's right to have an abortion. This week, Minister Dlamini has done just that.
Source: New Vision
The 'Kaleke kasome, kakyali kato' ( translated as ‘leave the child learn, she is still young’) song by local artist Maurice Hassa remains very popular to many young people because of the message campaigning against cross generation sex, defilement, rape and child molestation.
Source: IPS News
MBABANE, Jun 5 2014 (IPS) - For months, Nonkululeko Msibi could not find her voice each time she wanted to share the news to her husband. She had learned that she was infected with HIV at the age of 16 when delivering her firstborn baby at Swaziland's Mbabane Government Hospital.
Source: UNFPA
LUKULU DISTRICT, Zambia – Olivia Kaunda, 34, just moved to a shelter in the Luvuzi Rural Health Centre in Western Zambia. Eight months pregnant, this is the place she will call home for the next few weeks as she prepares to give birth in the adjacent clinic.
Source: Humanosphere
Some 73 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America are responsible for 96% of global maternal deaths and more than 90% of newborn deaths. Yet, these same countries are home to only 42% of the world's health workforce.
Source: Gender Link
Limited access to sexual reproductive health and abuse from male customers have been identified as key factors that place sex workers at risk of contracting HIV. Nkomile Mpooa of CARE-Lesotho brought the issue up during her presentation at the SADC Protocol@Work Summit currently underway in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Source: UN News Centre
Despite major global progress in improving the health of children and their mothers, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged participants at a summit in Toronto to show the leadership, build the key partnerships, generate the financing and devise the creative solutions needed to deliver a world of health, safety and possibility for every woman and every child.
Source: UNFPA
ABUJA, Nigeria – Since her marriage at age 14, Zuera Mustapha, now 21, has experienced two stillbirths and a recurrent obstetric fistula resulting from her difficult deliveries. Yet even with these hardships, she has been luckier than some; her mother and sister both died of complications in childbirth. In northern Nigeria, where she lives, fistula and maternal death are alarmingly common – a fact UNFPA is working to change.
Source: Huffington Post
Different from what many people believe, menstrual health is not just a "women's issue." We need to get people -- boys and girls, men and women -- to talk openly about menstrual health in every part of the world. Female hygiene should be at the top of each government's list of priorities.
Source: The Lancet
The achievement of an AIDS-free future will surely be a priority discussion topic at the upcoming International AIDS Society conference in Melbourne, Australia.