Zimbabwe: National Aids Council (NAC): Closing the tap to new HIV Infections.

The Young People Network on Sexual Reproduction Health HIV and Aids (YPNSRHHA) is a network for youths that seeks to close the tap for new HIV infections. Through their efforts in HIV programming sand HIV prevention activities, they help to reduce HIV infections and also fighting to reach the 90%-90%-90% goal by 2020.This project seeks to advocate for youths access to Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services. It’s focusing on improving the uptake of SRH service and create a demanding generation. This project again seeks to disseminate HIV/AIDS and STIs infections to peers, fighting to end unwanted pregnancies and teenage marriages and identify the gaps in HIV programing for young people.

The project aims to advocate for youth access to Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), to improve the uptake of SRH services by youth that is creating a demanding generation, to disseminate information on HIV and Aids, GBV and Sexual Reproductive Health rights, to identify gaps in HIV programming, to reduce GBV, to improve the involvement of youth in HIV prevention activities and lastly to improve the involvement of youth in advocacy. The YPNSHHA offers youth education on sexual Health through sport as part of its activities. The project also carries out screening sessions on STIs and Behavioural Change, dialogues on GBV and musical galas and HIV competitions at primary and Secondary Schools.

The project aims to advocate for youth access to Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), to improve the uptake of SRH services by youth that is creating a demanding generation, to disseminate information on HIV and Aids, GBV and Sexual Reproductive Health rights, to identify gaps in HIV programming, to reduce GBV, to improve the involvement of youth in HIV prevention activities and lastly to improve the involvement of youth in advocacy. The YPNSHHA offers youth education on sexual Health through sport as part of its activities. The project also carries out screening sessions on STIs and Behavioural Change, dialogues on GBV and musical galas and HIV competitions at primary and Secondary Schools.

This project has Monitoring and evaluation tools such as sites and field visits, activity reports, quarterly reports, national Monitoring and evaluation and quarterly analysis of program measuring target against achievement. This monitoring and evaluation method has resulted in the project having an increase in the knowledge base on HIV/AIDS, Gender Based Violence, an increased uptake of HIV/Testing Services (HTS),increased youth participation in HIV  prevention activities and changes in gender attitudes towards HIV and Aids and GBV. Quarterly reports are submitted by each member of the network team. The report will be comprised of the activities carried out, the challenges faced and the recommendations. Supervisory visits are conducted to monitor progress on the sectors. A meeting is held quarterly where there are discussions done, feedback on activities and also drafting of the following quarter plans.

Some of the challenges that that the YPN have faced include inconsistent reporting together with non-reporting which dragged down the progress of the project, completeness of duties, timeless of data submission, transport challenges has also contributed to the program being it difficult to implement. Most of the partners have no vehicles so it became so difficult for them to attend some of the activities. Geographical locations also affected the program as some of the members lived at places where there was no mobile network communication. It was hard for the YPN to reach such places as per project planning. To overcome such a situation, the YPN had to select network members who reside to those places so that there will be progress despite the mobile communication problem.

One unemployed young woman, Prisca Dube says “I feel alive now I have been empowered to take charge of my life, my sexuality and my sexual behaviour. I now have strength to make my own decisions.” Men have been very supportive in this project. The youth Network team comprised of both young men and young women. The young and elderly men contributed much in the spreading of the message on putting an end to Gender Based Violence (GBV).They were also part to ensure that women are supported in all their centred activities.

Communities have now accepted the program of stopping Gender Based Violence and uplifting each other in accessing information on SRH, HIV and AIDS issues. There is now an increase in the uptake of Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services. Gender Based Violence cases are said to be minimised at household and community levels. The communities are now aware enough to recognise the role which had been played by young people in fighting against HIV/AIDS. The communities are also attending and also participating in Youth Sexual Health Education through sport games (YES GAMES). The project results and lessons learned have been shared with authorities in an effort to increase awareness and interest in the knowledge base of Youth on issues of HIV/AIDS and GBV. The youth will help in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS if there is continuous support in capacity building.

The program can be made replicable through making sure that there is continuity of the network system. The chairmen of the youth network has two terms and therefore this ensures that even if the members change every year the network will not break down. Systems and strong structures have been established from local level to national level to ensure that the network does not crumble. In some areas which cannot be reached due to geographical locations, Young People Network has ensured that a team is selected which comprise of the people who resides around those areas in an effort to sustain the project. With this idea people in the community will be able to mobilize, attend and share important educational information concerning GBV, HIV and AIDS. It will be easier to replicate the program with less difficulties.