News / Health
Morning after pills give government a headache
27 Jan 2014 at 10:38hrs | Views
The increase in demand for morning after pills is giving government a headrace with officials claiming that it was promoting promiscuity among youths, the Zimbabwe Focus reported.
Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa said youths must stay away from sex because there are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted disease.
"What we encourage is prevention, prevention, prevention. Our education to all girls and boys is to prevent teenage pregnancy by delaying sexual debut as much as possible' he said.
"We want youths to have sex when they are married or when they are as they can be".
" We are not encouraging taking about morning after pills as in real abortion but we are encouraging prevention".
In December, all Bulawayo pharmacies run out of the morning after pill after sex-fuelled Christmas and New Year's holidays celebrations.
Pharmacists also said they have run out of pregnancy test kits, which also sold like hot cakes.
The pill costs between $4 to $6 while home pregnancy test kits are pegged at $1.
Most pharmacists said while the emergency contraceptive sells well across all ages, including married men and women, it has a ready market during the holidays when youths seemingly engage in risky sexual behaviour.
Pharmacists also said the pill sold more after music shows in the city.
"For example, when Kalawa Jazmee group was in town on December 27, we sold many pills in the morning. It's a trend that people buy these tablets after night shows," said one pharmacist.
It was revealed that condoms sell fast on Fridays, the morning after pill is on demand between Sunday and Monday.
Emergency contraceptives can be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex and they temporarily stop the release of an egg from the ovary, prevent fertilisation and also prevent a fertilised egg from attaching itself to the uterus.
Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa said youths must stay away from sex because there are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted disease.
"What we encourage is prevention, prevention, prevention. Our education to all girls and boys is to prevent teenage pregnancy by delaying sexual debut as much as possible' he said.
"We want youths to have sex when they are married or when they are as they can be".
" We are not encouraging taking about morning after pills as in real abortion but we are encouraging prevention".
In December, all Bulawayo pharmacies run out of the morning after pill after sex-fuelled Christmas and New Year's holidays celebrations.
Pharmacists also said they have run out of pregnancy test kits, which also sold like hot cakes.
The pill costs between $4 to $6 while home pregnancy test kits are pegged at $1.
Most pharmacists said while the emergency contraceptive sells well across all ages, including married men and women, it has a ready market during the holidays when youths seemingly engage in risky sexual behaviour.
Pharmacists also said the pill sold more after music shows in the city.
"For example, when Kalawa Jazmee group was in town on December 27, we sold many pills in the morning. It's a trend that people buy these tablets after night shows," said one pharmacist.
It was revealed that condoms sell fast on Fridays, the morning after pill is on demand between Sunday and Monday.
Emergency contraceptives can be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex and they temporarily stop the release of an egg from the ovary, prevent fertilisation and also prevent a fertilised egg from attaching itself to the uterus.
Source - zimbabwefocus
