Ipas Zambia Media Network

By Linda Mupemo, ZANIS-Milenge HEALTH authorities in Milenge district  have called on stakeholders to come on board to help sensitise the community on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.  The call came from Milenge District Hospital Medical Officer In Charge Dr. Nicholas Sakala who noted that sexual information is regarded as a taboo by some residents hence they shun sexual reproductive health services offered at health facilities. Details in the following report....

By Linda Mupemo, ZANIS-Milenge Chief Sokontwe - Picture by Linda Mupemo Chief Sokontwe of the Ushi people in Milenge district of Luapula Province has urged traditional marriage councellors to desist from propagating teachings that infringe on women's Sexual and Reproductive Health rights. Chief Sokontwe noted that some traditional teachings were retrogressive and aimed at suppressing the women folk. Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, the Traditional Leader said there is need for marriage counsellors to undergo modern training especially on   health  matters.  He said it is important for counsellors to be furnished with the right information about health rights as they teach people under them.  He added that counsellors need to differentiate between teachings that preserve culture and those that are detrimental to the well-being of people especially young girls and women.  Chief Sokontwe called on married couples in the com...

By Bettyshebar Katebe, ZANIS-Samfya A 27-year-old man has appeared in Samfya Magistrate Court for defiling a 14-year-old girl contrary to Section 138 (1) Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. ZANIS reports that before magistrate Fabian Likulunga was Kawimbe Mubanga 27, a Clinical Officer at Saint Margaret's Mission Hospital in Chifunabuli district. Facts before the court were that Mubanga on April 24, 2020, unlawfully had canal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl of Kasaba village in Chief Mwansakombe’s area in Chifunabuli district. Mubanga was apprehended on April 27, 2020 and later taken to Samfya Police station. When the matter came up for plea before Samfya Magistrate Court, Mubanga pleaded not guilty of the charge. And Magistrate Likulunga adjourned the matter to June 22, 2020 for continuation of trial.

By Bettyshebar Katebe, ZANIS-Samfya Women of Chisanka village - Picture by Bettysheba Katebe   BREAKTHROUGH Action has intensified sensitisation of rural communities in Samfya district on Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services, nutrition, malaria treatment and other services. BREAKTHROUGH Action Luapula Province Programmes and Monitoring Officer Felix Mpundu said the organisation is now using a Public Address system to disseminate information at six health facilities it supports among them Chinsanka, Katanshya and Kasanka Rural Health Centers . Speaking at Chisanka Rural Health Centre, Mr. Mpundu said the initiative was aimed at ensuring their audience observes maximum physical distance in the wake of the corona virus pandemic. He noted that there were a lot of services that health facilities offer, adding that BREAKTHROUGH Action wants to ensure it bridges the gap of information flow between community members and the facilities. He disclosed th...

By Mumba Jeckt, Radio Luapula Binate Mwaba - Picture by Mumba Jeckt BINATE Mwaba, a senior citizen of Mubamba village of Chief Kambwali’s Chiefdom in   Nchelenge   district has bemoaned the high number of early pregnancies among girls in the area. Mr. Mwaba said a number of girls in Mubamba and other villages are falling pregnant at a tender age, a development he said is worrying.  He said it is important for Government and other stake holders to strengthen the existing laws and regulations aimed at fighting early marriages so as to help secure the future of girls. He told Radio Luapula News in an interview that there was need for more sensitization on the matter as people have not yet understood the negative impact of early pregnancies especially on young girls.   Mr. Mwaba added that parents must ensure they protect the future of their children by educating them on some of the negative effects that come with vices such as early p...

By Mildred Chisanga, ZANIS-Chinsali A pregnant woman - Picture Courtesy of Google Images CHINSALI District Health Director David Silweya has appealed to residents of Chinsali not to shun health services basing on the district having recorded one case of COVID- 19.  Dr. Silweya said measures have been put in place at the urban clinic and the hospital to ensure the safety of patients and other clients.  He said this following reports that some members of the community are shunning health facilities for fear of catching COVID- 19.  Dr. Silweya also appealed to expectant mothers to continue visiting antenatal clinic. He added that under the new normal, all the units in the health sector are operating fully. The DHD encouraged clients on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) and family planning,  to visit the units for them to access the services.   Dr. Silweya explained that as a response to a high number of malnutrition and stun...