By Staff Reporter
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Regional Director, Lydia Zigomo will visit Zimbabwe to engage with government officials and partners on critical health and social initiatives, with the goal of advancing health, gender equality, and education across the country.
During the visit, the Regional Director will attend the Joint Meeting of SADC Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for HIV and AIDS, which will be held in Harare. The director’s mission to Zimbabwe also seeks to strengthen partnerships between UNFPA and the Government of Zimbabwe and to further the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda. In addition, the visit provides an opportunity to assess the impact of UNFPA’s support programs in Zimbabwe.
Key Events and Visits
1. Sally Mugabe School of Midwifery Visit:
The Regional Director will visit the Sally Mugabe School of Midwifery, accompanied by Zimbabwe’s Health Minister, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora. This visit will showcase an e-learning platform developed for all nursing and midwifery schools in Zimbabwe. Launched in June 2024 with the support of the Health Resilience Fund (HRF), this platform aims to standardize content across institutions and improve access to resources, benefiting both students and educators in the healthcare sector.
2. Bindura GBV One-Stop Center Tour:
On November 5, the Director will visit the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) One-Stop Center at Bindura General Hospital, established under the EU-supported Spotlight Initiative to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls. This center provides a range of integrated services, including medical care, counseling, and legal assistance. This model enables survivors to access vital services under one roof, overcoming common obstacles where such services are often scattered.
3. UN Day Commemorations – November 6, 2024
The visit will coincide with Zimbabwe’s UN Day commemorations at Rainbow Towers Hotel, highlighting the longstanding partnership between the UN and Zimbabwe in addressing the country’s key development challenges.
4. #72 Hours Campaign Launch
Later on November 6, the Regional Director will participate in the launch of the #72 Hours Campaign in partnership with Zimbabwe Cricket at the Harare Sports Club. This campaign, supported by the Health Resilience Fund, aims to improve the reporting rate of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) incidents within 72 hours, allowing survivors access to essential services such as post-exposure prophylaxis. Currently, fewer than 35% of survivors in Zimbabwe report incidents within this critical period, resulting in barriers to timely medical care.
The UNFPA Regional Director’s visit underscores the organization’s commitment to improving health, education, and protection services in Zimbabwe. Through strengthened partnerships and initiatives like the #72 Hours Campaign and e-learning platforms, UNFPA and the Government of Zimbabwe are working to enhance service delivery and support sustainable development across the nation.
