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Statement on women's day
Students and Youth Working on Reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT)
March 08, 2010

"If women in the developing world do not have equal rights, they will not have equal health ... It is as simple as that; the empowerment of women is not a politically-correct cliché, but a living, essential goal for everyone." - Richard Holbrooke

The Students and Youths Working on reproductive Health Action Team joins the rest of the world in commemorating this year's International women's Day running under the theme 'Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all'.

SAYWHAT's understanding of equity in sexual and reproductive health care and services for students encapsulates the provision of comprehensive SRH including HIV and AIDS services and resources. Such resources should be distributed and received according to the needs of each sex within their socio-economic context. Clearly noted over the past years is the greater need for health services among female students than male students because of their biological reproductive role.

Female students' participation in the demand for equal rights and opportunities in access to SRH services at local and national level remains low. Besides having a generalized limited access to SRH services for all students in tertiary institutions, female students remain the most affected. The need to access antenatal care clinics, post abortion care, contraceptives and information on PMTCT, Post Exposure Prophylaxis as well as positive living care and support is pivotal for the reproductive health care of female students. Not only does this ensure better health, but gives them power and control over their lives for informed decisions and choices that will continue to reduce risk and vulnerability to contracting HIV through discrimination, violence and limited access to resources.

This year SAYWHAT calls for the recognition and inclusion of female students as a group that remains vulnerable. There is need for more attention and involvement in order to better their reproductive health needs and challenges in tertiary institutions. Female students must not be excluded in all initiatives for women's affairs and gender equality as they are part of the group of women between the ages of 15 - 44 that accounts for most HIV infections and prevalence in Zimbabwe. Equal rights and equal opportunities for young women in tertiary institutions ensure the attainment of reproductive health for sustainable growth and development of the nation.

Students demand access to SRH including HIV and AIDS services in tertiary institutions. The impact of SRH concerns can not be underestimated among female students and the fact that women face a distinct set of health risks from men in the absence of self initiated HIV prevention methods engenders challenges peculiar to females. There is also need to demand an end to all forms of gender based violence against female students as up to 70 per cent of women worldwide are forced to have unprotected sexual intercourse, which makes them vulnerable to HIV, the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age worldwide ( UNAIDS)

SAYWHAT, as a student based movement on Reproductive Health continues to mark this day as an important day for gender equality and equity in the Reproductive Health of students in tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe. SAYWHAT urges all students, stakeholders and the public to advocate for the enshrinement of Health as a right in the Bill of Rights.

Visit the SAYWHAT fact sheet

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