'School children should be given contraceptives'

School children should be given contraceptives, the Government body charged with family planning said yesterday, in a move likely to torch a storm.

The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council said pupils were engaging in sex at an early age and giving them access to contraceptives will prevent unwanted pregnancies and risk of contracting HIV and AIDS.

ZNFPC communications and marketing manager Mr Simon Chikwizo, said it was unwise for society to ignore that some pupils were sexually active and deny them access to contraceptives.

"At college or universities, students access contraceptives from local clinics. We are not saying distribute contraceptive in schools, but many pupils are sexually active and they should be allowed to freely access contraceptives without being stigmatised," Mr Chikwizo said.

He said people working at points that issued contraceptives such as clinics should change their negative attitudes towards pupils who were willing to access them.

Mr Chikwizo said although the country's policies did not allow distribution of contraceptives in schools, some pupils were sexually active.

"Reproductive health challenges facing young people in Zimbabwe include low use of contraception.

"The Ministry of Education policy does not allow distribution of condoms in lower institutions of learning. But sexual activity begins early and is often unprotected, associated with risks such as HIV/AIDS, pregnancy and unsafe abortion, economic hardship and school drop-outs," he said.

Mr Chikwizo said adolescents faced higher reproductive risks than older women.

Earlier this month, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said he will not allow the distribution of condoms in schools, arguing that it would compromise the country's dignity.

He said the practice was also culturally unacceptable in Zimbabwe.