In a major step to address the disproportionate HIV burden faced by adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Zimbabwe, the National AIDS Council (NAC) has launched an innovative Sustainable and Affordable Boarding Schools initiative. This project, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Fund, aims to create a safe and nurturing environment that empowers AGYW and reduces their vulnerability to HIV.
Speaking at the handover ceremony at St Judes Secondary School in Kwekwe district, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Care, Douglas Mombeshora, expressed gratitude for the Global Fund’s long-standing partnership and support. “The Global Fund, in their Grant Cycle 7 from 2024 to 2026, has provided the Zimbabwean government with over half a billion US dollars. This funding ensures we have adequate medicines, health commodities, and high-impact community interventions to combat Malaria, TB, and HIV,” he said.
Mombeshora highlighted that the new Sustainable and Affordable Boarding Schools, formerly known as low-cost boarding facilities, are a direct outcome of this collaboration. “The concept was initiated during the New Funding Model 2 phase (2018-2020) and aligns with the government’s commitment to provide every Zimbabwean child a fair chance to excel in school,” he explained.
The primary goal of this initiative is to address the various challenges faced by AGYW in their schools and communities. “As you are aware, the girl child often faces unequal power relations, putting them at higher risk of HIV infection compared to boys,” Mombeshora said. “It is, therefore, imperative that we make deliberate efforts to reduce the risks faced by AGYW in this regard.”
The boarding school facilities aim to provide a safe, supportive, and empowering environment for AGYW. Through the Dreams (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) partnership, the project offers a comprehensive package of interventions. This includes support for tuition fees, comprehensive sexuality education, school uniforms, stationery, parent-to-child communication, and economic strengthening – all of which are being implemented in over 101 schools across four districts.
“The support by the Global Fund within the scope of the Dreams partnership, through which these affordable and sustainable boarding school facilities were constructed, has been very welcome,” Mombeshora emphasized.” It complements the government’s efforts to ensure that girls remain in school and complete their education, ultimately reducing their vulnerability to HIV.
This innovative initiative represents a significant step forward in Zimbabwe’s fight against the HIV epidemic, particularly in addressing the unique challenges faced by AGYW. By providing a safe and empowering educational environment, the Sustainable and Affordable Boarding Schools aim to empower the next generation of young women and contribute to the country’s broader efforts to achieve an AIDS-free future.
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