The report by the joint Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care and the Thematic Committee on HIV and Aids has revealed that young people are for the idea of getting access to sexual reproductive healthcare services without approval from parents.
Giving access to contraceptives to young people has been a topical issue in Zimbabwe. Those that have condemned it use religious and cultural reasons.
Others are of the view that it might work to encourage young people incentives to engage in sexual activities.
Reading the Report in Parliament Honourable Tapera Saizi said young people support the idea while older people are against it.
‘’It is imperative to state on the onset that young women, adolescents and youths were mostly in support of the petition while older women, men and religious leaders formed majority of the resenting voice,’’ he said.
The Committee Report emanated from public consultations that were conducted in response to a petition by Advocacy Core Team (ACT).
ACT had petitioned Parliament on the age of consent to accessing reproductive health care services (SRHR) by young persons.
The Committee Report said young people face several barriers in trying to access SRHR services.
Below listed are some of the barriers listed by the report:
Restrictive legal framework—Public Health Act requires that a minor below the age of 16 years be accompanied by a parent or guardian when seeking health care services. It was noted that this requirement makes it difficult for young people to access SRHR services. Especially in cases where the parent or guardian is a perpetrator. Further to this, there is absence of a legal framework protecting service providers in providing SRHR services to young people.
Unfriendly services—there were concerns that service providers had a judgmental attitude towards young people who seek SRHR services and information.
Cultural and religious beliefs—It was regarded a taboo in both African culture and Christianity in general, for young people to indulge in sexual intercourse at a tender age.
User fees—it was highlighted that young people did not afford the costs associated with accessing SRHR services.
