FACT Archives - HealthTimes

US Government Injects US$54 Million Towards FACT’S DREAMS SMART Girls and Space for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Programs

November 10, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

The Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT-Zimbabwe) and its partners with funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched critical programs worth more than US$54 million to help fight HIV in Manicaland and Masvingo. By Michael Gwarisa The programs are Sustaining Prevention, Increasing Access to Care and Empowerment for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (SPACE for OVC) and the DREAMS- Support, Maintain, Advocate, reduce Risk and Transform (SMART) Girls. Representing the Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister, Mr Pastense Tarondwa, said…

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Finally, the girls can DREAM!

September 3, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

Tafadzwa Mabaya (16) is a data entry clerk at the Zimbabwe Health Interventions (ZHI) offices in Bulawayo. However, her story was not always this rosy. Back in 2016, Tafadzwa got married to a man from the apostolic sect. The marriage did not last as the man abusive and harbored polygamous intentions. By Michael Gwarisa She returned to stay with her mother in Marange where she was working. That is when she saw girls under the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS Free Mentored (DREAMS) program seated under a tree at a nearby…

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No Means No! Empowering Adolescent Girls To Ward-Off Sexual Violence Through Self-Defense

August 1, 2022August 1, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

Tarisai Mhlanga (10), a Grade 6 pupil at Tafara Primary school in Chipinge says she wants to be a doctor when she grows up. However, with the increasing cases of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in her community, she fears her dream might never come true. By Michael Gwarisa Though she is still very young, Tarisai dreads that one day on her way from school, when an abuser might just pounce on her and change her life completely. Her fears are real. Sexual abuse is rife in Manicaland province. Since…

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From Heaven To Hell In 12 Months: A GBV Survivor’s Story

April 20, 2022April 20, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

NOMAGUGU Hurumba (22) is an orphan and a single mother to a three year old son. Growing up in Chiredzi, especially after the demise of her parents was never easy. To compound her woes, when she was in Form 3, Noma had to drop out of school after her siblings had indicated that they were no longer able to shoulder her school fees burden. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Chipinge She moved from Chiredzi to stay with her sister in Chipinge. However, persistent economic hardships in the country pushed her…

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357 Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators Convicted

April 11, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

IN a move that is set to boost confidence in Zimbabwe’s criminal justice system, at least 55 percent of Sexual offenders and perpetrators of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Manicaland province and some parts of Masvingo have been convicted since the year 2019 to date. By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare The cases were facilitated and processed through the assistance of the Family AIDS Caring Trust Zimbabwe (FACT) legal division in the districts FACT is implementing the Children Tariro and DREAMS projects namely Makoni, Mutare, Chipinge, Buhera and Gutu. Speaking during…

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After Falling Off The Radar, Orphaned HIV Positive Boy Develops High Viral Load

April 4, 2022April 4, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

A few minutes after bringing her son into this world, Simba Ncube’s* mother lost her life to AIDS related complications in 2010. Luckily before she died, Simba’s mother had registered her cousin sister, Ms Pride Ncube* as the next of kin and guardian to her child. On the fateful day, the hospital called Ms Ncube informing her that her sister had died and had indicated that she wanted her to raise her child. By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare However, a family feud ensued shortly afterwards with Simba’s maternal grandparents demanding…

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Manicaland Child Marriage Survivors Find Solace In Economic Strengthening Programs

April 3, 2022April 4, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

DUE to economic hardships and prolonged schools closure at the back of recurrent COVID-19 induced lockdowns, Marvelous Tsambe* (16) from Chikore Village in Chimanimani entered into an early child marriage at the age 14 as an escape from the challenges back home. However, to her surprise, marriage did not bring the much anticipated economic escape. By Michael Gwarisa in Manicaland Just like most girls her age in her area, Marvelous fell for Majoni-Joni or those young men who illegally cross the border to work in South Africa. Whenever they return…

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Towards an AIDS Free Generation, Nyazura Celebrates PMTCT Milestone

March 31, 2022March 31, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

“GETTING initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) as well as registering for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) program early has been the best decision I have ever made,” said Tracey Makoni* (27) from Nyazura, in Manicaland province during an interview with HealthTimes on a media tour that was organised by the Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT). Tracey has five children and even though they were born after she had already tested positive for HIV, none amongst them has HIV, thanks to the PMTCT program being offered…

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FACT’s Education Program A Resounding Success in Mutare Says Zim Government

March 29, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

EVEN though the pass rate in Mutare marginally dropped during the COVID-19 period, the district continues to enjoy a pass rate above 60%, while the number of adolescent girls, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) who remained in school has increased at the back of education and parenting interventions being implemented by the Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT), a top government official has said. By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare Through the Children Tariro (CT) project, FACT has been implementing education and parenting programs in Mutare, Mutasa and Chipinge districts with the…

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More Zim Men Experiencing Emotional Abuse At The Hands Of Their Wives

June 18, 2021June 18, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

THERE has been an increase in the number of men coming forward to report Gender Based Violence (GBV) in particular emotional abuse at the hands of women. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Mashonaland West Recent data from the 2021 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVac) Rural Livelihoods Report show the national incidence for spousal emotional abuse was 6.01% in males and 5.76% in females. Speaking to HealthTimes, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Makonde Development District Development Officer, Mrs Fungai Sadzi said they receive reports from men…

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