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Blessings Chidakwa Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe is set to join the 6th Regional Psychological Support Forum scheduled for October 13 to 15 in Maputo, Mozambique in the context of Covid-19.

In a statement issued during a virtual meeting on Wednesday morning, Zimbabwe REPSSI forum coordinator Mr Brighton Gwezera said as the pandemic continues to affect socio-economic development, claim lives, cause fear and isolation, the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of individuals is adversely affected.

“Covid-19 has increased inequality as children from vulnerable communities continue to miss school due to closures and lack of resources for e-learning, loss of care givers or family members, loss of family income, increased violence at home and a lack of access to child protection services.

“If children fail to return to school, cases of unsafe sexual practices, early and unintended pregnancies will increase. Pregnant adolescents often lose their social networks, are rejected by family, religious networks and their partners, are less informed on nurturing care, and struggle with stigma and exclusion,” he said.

Mr Gwezera said unfortunately, the youths face some of these challenges without receiving adequate psycho-social support and access to mental health services hence stakeholders should invest in such interventions to promote the mental health well-being of children and youth.

REPSSI works in 13 countries in East and Southern Africa including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa to promote an enabling environment for communities and families to nurture, protect and empower girls, boys and youth to enhance their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing by providing technical leadership in psychosocial support for children and youth.