The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
OVER 70 people, the majority of them young women, met in Bulawayo during the weekend, with the aim to discuss issues of Gender Based Violence (GBV), and existing inequalities in accessing various health services.
Held under the banner of ‘Pan African Positive Women’s Coalition’ (PAPWC-Z), with support from World Health Organisation (WHO), the round table provided a platform for women – some living with HIV – to air out their concerns regarding challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health services.
The roundtable was also held in line with commemorations of the 16 days of activism against GBV, and World Aids Day under the theme ‘End Inequalities End Aids End Pandemics.’
Participants were appraised on the implications of GBV on women and girls living with HIV, experiences of inequalities faced by young women and men born with the virus, as well as on GBV legal and health rights.
National director of PAPWC-Z, Ms Tendai Westerhof said the roundtable looked at existing gaps that need to be addressed at policy, programming and community level in relation to GBV and women living with HIV and Aids.
“We have people born differently referred to as key populations, transgender women, albinos and women living with disabilities. Sometimes they feel that they are not getting the services they require and they are more subject to GBV than any other people among our populations.
“So, we are finding solutions. Not everything will be done today, but at the end of the day we are going to come up with recommendations and a way forward to say on these gaps who is going to do what, and when.
“For example, issues of advocacy around policy change, policy adjustment to ensure that no one is left behind, that the policies are user friendly and that they are implemented for the ordinary,” Ms Westerhof said.
The program is also a follow up to a collaboration done in 2020, which focused on the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
This year’s event brought representatives of organisations of people living with HIV, as well as the National Aids Council.
Representing the WHO, Dr Mkhokheli Ngwenya, said he was happy for the platform, which provided an opportunity for policy makers to hear lived experiences and challenges.
“We had a number of women community-based organisations from across the country. So they were here discussing about the challenges they face in living with HIV, GBV and issues of accessing services, how Covid-19 impacted on some of their lives.
“For example, issues of failing to access services because of travel restrictions and also because of the health facilities being overwhelmed. There is a plan of what they will be doing in the next 16 days, and also plans on priority areas to focus on next year going forward,” Dr Ngwenya said.
From November 25, Zimbabwe joined the world in observing the beginning of 16 days of activism against GBV. The day is also observed as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The commemorations end on December 10, which is also Human Rights Day.
