Tag: ZACH

One Stop Centres as Key Accelerators Towards Zimbabwe’s Progress To End AIDS By 2030

Michael Gwarisa

Women and girls who experience Gender Based Violence (GBV) are at high risk of contracting HIV. According to UN Women, GBV is a risk factor for HIV infection, and a consequence of stigma. Addressing violence and gender inequality is therefore essential to ending the AIDS epidemic and protecting the human rights of all people to safety, equality and the highest attainable standard of health. By Michael Gwarisa For Roselyn Magaso* 24, from Ngangu, Chimanimani, having been married at the age of 16, she experienced all forms of abuse at the…

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ZACH Urges Government To Support Pregnant Teens

Ntokozo Gudu

PARENTS are finding the toll of teen mothers heavy hence the need for Government to at least chip in with material support. By Nthokozo Gudu Zimbabwe is battling the scourge of teen pregnancies with civil society organisations advocating for access to sexual and reproductive health services. Addressing journalists at the press conference SASA Programme coordinator Dennis Dzikiti said communities feel that the government should have support systems for impregnated girl children whose marriages cannot be sanctioned, Communities feel that the government should chip in and assist with material support in…

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ZACH Rallies Media to Amplify Voices of Adolescents Girls and women at risk of GBV

Michael Gwarisa

NEW HIV infections being recorded in Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Zimbabwe could be linked to harmful practices such as Gender Based Violence (GBV), Child Marriages and sexual abuse obtaining in the country, the Zimbabwe Association of Church related Hospitals (ZACH) has warned. By Michael Gwarisa UNAIDS data shows that  Adolescent Girls and Young Women from sub-Saharan Africa, aged 15-24, remain at substantial risk of acquiring HIV and in 2021, they accounted for 63% of all new HIV infections in 2021 largely due to  biological, socio-economic, religious, and…

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SASA Project Records Gains from Partnering Chiefs in Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls

Michael Gwarisa

WHILE Chiefs have traditionally been blamed for preserving harmful cultural practices that perpetuate abuse of women and girls, the SASA project being implemented by the Zimbabwe Association of Church related Hospitals (ZACH) has managed to rope in chiefs and other traditional leaders as allies in ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in communities. By Michael Gwarisa SASA stands for Start Awareness Support Action (SASA) and ZACH is implementing the program in eight hot spot districts (Chimanimani, Mguza, Kwekwe and Umzingwane] plus 4 additional hot spot districts). Speaking during the…

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Male Involvement Component Slows Down PrEP Uptake In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

POOR health seeking behavior by males, coupled with the patriarchal nature of society has slowed down the uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa PrEP is the use of Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs by HIV-uninfected persons to prevent the acquisition of HIV before exposure to HIV. Most oral PrEP pills contain a combination of two ARVs- tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricatabine. According to data that was shared by the Zimbabwe Association of Church related Hospitals (ZACH) during a virtual media  briefing on PrEP, the uptake of PrEP…

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HIV Positive Women Urged To Regularly Screen For Cervical Cancer

Patricia Mashiri

THE Zimbabwe Association of Church Related Hospitals (ZACH) has warned that  women living with HIV were more prone to cervical cancer and therefore should get screened more frequently. By Patricia Mashiri Speaking during Cervical cancer and HIV and the impact of COVID-19 on screening services virtual meeting, HIV Positive Women Urged To Regularly Screen For Cervical Cancer, Dr Onai  Diura-Vere ZACH Technical Advisor said,”85 percent of women with cervical and HIV live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Women with HIV are at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer compared with HIV…

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Faith and Community Initiative Launched To Accelerate Attainment Of HIV Epidemic Control In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE Faith and Community Initiative (FCI) project, a programme which is aimed at scaling-up community and faith responses, which are central to achieving the 95–95–95 global treatment target and the PEPFAR goals focusing on impact, efficiency, sustainability, partnership, and human rights. By Michael Gwarisa The initiative is being supported by PEPFAR and USAID and the Organization for Public Health Interventions and Development (OPHID) and implementing partners, Zimbabwe Association of Church Related Hospitals (ZACH), Family Aids Caring Trust – FACT Zimbabwe and AFRICAID are launching the Faith and Community Initiative FCI)…

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