Southern Africa: New Hope for Reducing Cervical Cancer Deaths in East and Southern Africa

A poignant story about a woman from Malawi this week resonates deeply with me. At the age of 40, Mary went for cervical cancer screening and tested positive. Because the cancer had… Read more »

Mozambique: Reshaping Masculinity - 'I Changed the Way I See the World. When a Girl Says No, It Is No'

At seventeen, Vasco César is rethinking some of his views, especially about women. "I always thought that because I was a man, I had to have more privileges than my sisters,… Read more »

Malawi: Hacked With a Machete By Her Husband, Young Woman Gets Justice With Spotlight Initiative Support

Anna Salima, 24, has painful memories of her two marriages. With her first marriage, it took her just a week to realize she had married the wrong man. Yet she stayed for five… Read more »

Mozambique: 'I Can Now Go Back to School' - Teenage Mother Overjoyed She Can Prevent Unintended Pregnancies With Contraception

Fátima António, 18, the mother of a five-month-old boy, told UNFPA she was "apprehensive and hesitant" about using contraception. She is not alone. Nampula province… Read more »

Mozambique: "I Can Now Go Back to School" - Teenage Mother Overjoyed to Be Using Contraceptives

Fátima António, 18, the mother of a five-month-old boy, told UNFPA she was "apprehensive and hesitant" about using contraception. She is not alone. Nampula province… Read more »

Angola: How Technology Is Improving the Quality of Maternal Health Care in Drought-Affected Angola

"It is very gratifying to be able to accompany a pregnant woman from her first consultation until delivery," says Leonor Teles Daniel, a nurse at Namacunde municipal hospital in… Read more »

Southern Africa: Speed Up the Rate of Progress On Midwifery in East and Southern Africa, New UNFPA Report Urges

The number of midwives in East and Southern Africa has increased by 8 per cent since 2017, yet a shortage of almost 300,000 midwives remains. The 146,000 midwives in the region… Read more »

Botswana: Achieving Her Dream and Promoting Rights - Journey of a Young Woman With a Disability

Raised by a single mother in the village of Rasesa, Tsaone Mosweu was born with a genetic eye disorder that would impair her vision. "At age 10, I developed cataracts and had… Read more »

Mozambique: "Girls Should Focus On Their Studies" - How Activists Are Changing Girls' Lives in Mozambique

With notebooks in her arms and a bright smile, Maria*, 16, is getting ready for another school day. In the 9th grade in Mogovolas district, Nampula province, she dreams of becoming… Read more »

South Africa: UNFPA Unveils Exciting New Partnership With Miss South Africa 2020, Shudufhadzo Musida

Statement by Lydia Zigomo, Regional Director on the launch of new Regional Champion, 22 November 2022 Read more »

South Africa: New UNFPA Regional Champion to Help Make the World a Safer, Better Place for Women and Girls

UNFPA's first ever Regional Champion is Shudufhadzo Musida, author and Miss South Africa 2020. Read more »

South Africa: UNFPA Announces Partnership With Miss South Africa 2020 Shudufhadzo Musida As New Regional Champion

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, announced the appointment of Miss South Africa 2020, Shudufhadzo Musida, as UNFPA Regional Champion. Read more »

Malawi: How Young Mothers Are Getting a Fresh Start in Life in Rural Malawi

MCHINJI, Malawi - Cecilia Zimba dropped out of school when she was 17 because her parents couldn't afford to support her education - but she had high hopes they would find the… Read more »

Mozambique: 'Mother, I Cannot Marry This Man. I Am Too Young. I Want to Continue My Studies'

Marta* was 13 years old when her mother told her she would have to marry a 73-year-old man. No longer able to afford schooling her, her mother saw marriage as the only solution.… Read more »

East Africa: Power of Harnessing Assets As We Accelerate Towards the SDGs and Our Transformative Results

Statement by Lydia Zigomo, Regional Director, UNFPA East and Southern Africa Read more »

East Africa: Power of Harnessing Assets As We Accelerate Towards the Transformative Results

Opening Remarks Read more »

Lesotho: Lesotho Introduces Family Planning Services With Childbirth in Hospital, to Empower Women

After delivering her fifth child, 'Mathabo*, 33, and her husband decided to start using contraceptives a day after the birth, to avoid an unplanned pregnancy. While still in… Read more »

Southern Africa: News From East and Southern Africa - July to August 2022

As I assumed my Regional Director role in UNFPA East and Southern Africa, I am marching steadfastly with you in creating a better world for women and young people. This newsletter… Read more »

South Sudan: Formal Presentation of the Country Programme Documents for South Sudan and Zambia

Formal presentation by the Regional Director Lydia Zigomo of the UNFPA country programme documents: East and Southern Africa region – South Sudan and Zambia Read more »

Southern Africa: New UNFPA Regional Director to Lead Efforts to Achieve SDGs in East and Southern Africa

Lydia Zigomo has been appointed Regional Director of UNFPA East and Southern Africa. Read more »

East Africa: Regional Initiative to Speed Up Progress On Ending Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths

Women in East and Southern Africa still die during pregnancy and childbirth due to preventable causes, said Dr. Brian Chirombo, WHO Rwanda Representative, at a high-level meeting… Read more »

Malawi: Girls' Education an 'Uphill Task' - Village Headman Challenges Deeply Held Traditions

Sitting under a mango tree, Village Headman Patete marvels at a group of girls who are singing as they walk to a nearby primary school. In the past, a scene like this was not… Read more »

Angola: How Angola is Training Nurses to Support Safe Birth During Emergencies

"Working with women, my biggest challenge is to bring knowledge, because those who do not have knowledge will not be able to do anything. Those with knowledge already know what to… Read more »

Africa: Bursaries Keep Girls in School, to Avoid Child Marriage and Early Pregnancy

DEDZA, Malawi--For the past three years, Lusita Maikolo has been in and out of school. Her parents could not always afford to pay her school fees, and this led to her being… Read more »

Mozambique: Equal Rights for People With Albinism - 'The Blood That Runs in Our Veins Is the Same'

When she was younger, Bastina Agostinho's mother abandoned her because she has albinism, a rare and genetically inherited condition present from birth. Read more »