My Age Zimbabwe, together with other civil society organizations (CSOs) – including Population Services Zimbabwe, SAY WHAT, SRHR Africa Trust, and ZIMCODD – and local authorities, convened a meeting to discuss ways to strengthen Family Planning Access for Zimbabwe Adolescents. The central focus was the establishment of user fees and tariffs within public health facilities and their impact on access to essential services.
A key challenge highlighted during the discussion was the recurrent scarcity of family planning supplies in local clinics, despite the supposed free provision of these services. Local authorities emphasized the significant opportunity for CSOs to engage proactively in local budget processes at all levels. Such involvement would empower CSOs to advocate effectively for improved resource allocation and address systemic shortcomings.
This dialogue underscored the potential for CSOs to assume a more influential role in local decision-making, thereby enhancing access to family planning services for adolescents and young people, particularly those within underserved communities. Continued collaboration among all stakeholders remains crucial to ensuring the reliable availability of necessary family planning resources for Zimbabwe’s youth.
