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.
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Source: Trust
Mother of four Everlyn Irusa was given an injection to numb her inside upper arm before two four-centimetre-long rods were inserted just under her skin.
Source: The Star
The Government will spend Sh200 million to buy sanitary pads for disadvantaged girls in primary schools in the country in the 2013/2014 financial year.
Source: The Star
THE government has pledged to increase modern contraceptive use by 10 per cent in 2015.
Source: Premium Times
Efforts directed at curbing the spread of the virus will be focused more towards women, NACA said.
Source: Xinhua
Zambia is in the process of coming up with another national strategic framework on HIV/AIDS as the southern African nation presses on with its resolve to eliminate the pandemic.
Source: The Observer
More than 50 per cent of women are scared of discussing family planning issues with their husbands, according to a study by Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU).
Source: Voice of America
About 4,000 people are expected to attend this year's International Conference on Family Planning. The three day meeting opens November 12 in Addis Ababa. The theme is Full Access, Full Choice.
Source: Tengri News
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon pleaded Wednesday in Niger, the country with the world's highest fertility rate, for better reproductive health to curb the Sahel region's runaway demographic growth, AFP reports .
Source: World Bank
Responding to Niger's "Call to Action" for improvements in women's reproductive health and girls' education, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim pledged today to strongly support the initiative and to invest $200 million in a new regional project aimed at improving the regional response to maternal and reproductive health and adolescent girls' issues.
Source: The Star
A concern is being raised over increased rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections like HIV, gonorrhea and syphilis between January and June next year. Njoki Otieno from Activists of Women Living with HIV in Kenya also says there will be an upsurge of unwanted pregnancies. Dorothy Onyango from women fighting Aids in Kenya says the condom shortage will be a major blow to gains made in the fight against HIV.
With a wide smile Beatrice M.* says that she lives by the motto “life is short and beautiful — live it to the full.” The 20-year-old, HIV-positive mother refuses to be defeated by her new circumstances.