ZIMBABWE is facing a countrywide shortage of family
planning pills due to procurement challenges which will only be addressed next
month.
The pills are one of the most preferred family planning
methods in the country and pharmacies and other private institutions are not
spared from the crisis.
In a survey conducted by The Chronicle, most pharmacies in
Bulawayo indicated that they had gone for more than three weeks without the
pill.
Zimbabwe National family Planning Council Matabeleland
regional officer Mr Blessed Gumbi said the shortages were due to procurement
challenges.
“We are running dry on contraceptives and it’s a
countrywide crisis that we are struggling to contain. We have nothing in our
stocks and at Zimbabwe National Pharmaceuticals which affects pharmacies as
they normally buy from us,” said Mr Gumbi.
“However, we are expecting a shipment at the beginning of
September and we are hopeful that will improve the situation”.
He said breast feeding women were not affected as there are
a few Secure pills in circulation which are accessible.
“We are short of the Control pills, the most used by women
but we still have low supplies of the Secure pills which are accessible.
However, Secure pills are on demand compared to the Control hence the
challenge,” Mr Gumbi said.
He urged members of the public to approach health
institutions for alternative methods while waiting for the pills.
“In family planning we offer a wide range of services which
include short acting, long acting and permanent methods. Women can approach
their health providers for more information about available methods of
contraception, including condom use, where they will be given appropriate
information about advantages and disadvantages of the different methods
available so that they can then make informed decisions,” Mr Gumbi said.
Zimbabwe has made huge progress in the provision of Family
Planning for women but more efforts are required to ensure access for even
those in the remotest parts of the country,
The Contraceptive Prevalence rate (CPR), that is the
proportion of women aged 15-49 using family planning, is at about 67 percent
today, an improvement from 59 percent in 2010.
This is one of the highest on the continent but there
remains unmet needs among women and girls of reproductive age, the majority of
them in rural settings and often young according to the United Nations
Population Fund. Chronicle
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