SRHR sensitization: Sengezane, Gwanda

Building from the previous Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) sensitization roadshows implemented in the project areas, CYDT in partnership with the Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders conducted another SRHR roadshow in Sengezane, Gwanda rural, that aimed at increasing awareness on the need for involvement of young people as equal partners when dealing with issues that directly affects them such as sexual health issues.

Using the slogan “Nothing for Us Without Us”, the youth who had the opportunity to share their views during the roadshow said, youth challenges can only be solved when leaders start taking their ideas into consideration. They noted that, young people were supposed to be on the forefront of SRHR services, hence it was imperative that the Ministry of Health and other strategic stakeholders sit down with young people to develop approaches that will help improve access to SRHR services amidst COVID 19.

 Like in the previous roadshows, this particular roadshow also brought into awareness the subject of Gender based Violence which has become a pandemic within another pandemic. It was highlighted that measures to curb the spread of the pandemic such as national lockdowns have inadvertently and disproportionately affected young girls who have become victims of sexual abuse and gender based violence.

In rural areas that still follow repressive traditional and religious myths, some parents have taken schools closure as an advantage to force their young girls into child marriages. In addition, some of these young girls forced into child marriages are physical abused by their much older husbands. This roadshow brought to awareness the need for the security department like the Zimbabwe Republic Police to work with SRHR champions, the Community and local CBOs in flushing out those parents and elders forcing minors into child marriages.

The role of community leaders like village heads was established as significant in terms of raising awareness on the need to deviate from child marriages and encouraging community members to be vigilant in exposing those violating the SRHR of young people.