Despite the lockdown and the New World Order, with funding from Olof Palme Center International (OPIC) WASN has managed to carry out its mandate of educating women, girls, men and boys through various trainings in Leadership, SRHR, Communication, Assertiveness and Advocacy. It has conducted dialogue with stakeholders with support funding the program. WASN’s ultimate vision is an atmosphere where women and girls enjoy their full Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights.
The trainings on Leadership, Communication, Assertiveness and Advocacy which consisted of age group ranging from 20 to 60 of women, girls, men and boys. The Women, girls, men and boys through the training increased their ability to claim their rights, holding Rights Holders accountable and institutions responsible in fulfilling rights. Many advocacy issues came out during the training such as fighting against GBV, ending early child marriages, fighting against bad cultural practises. WASN Support Groups have created an environment where women’s and adolescent girls’ physical and emotional safety is respected and where women and adolescent girls are supported through processes of empowerment to seek, share, and obtain information, access services, express themselves, enhance psychosocial well-being, and more fully realize their rights.
The dialogues WASN carried out with stakeholders in communities has helped to identify, monitor trends, challenges and perceptions over time with these specific groups of stakeholders that provide various services to the communities. There were 124 participants who took part at Sesame clinic stakeholder’s dialogue and the objectives of the stakeholder’s dialogue were, to discuss gender dynamics in accessing services and identify gaps and engage respective policy makers on the issues highlighted by Support Group members. The stakeholders welcoming and positive attitudes allows the community to know when, where to access services. WASN is promoting good relationship of service providers and community, creating of a friendly atmosphere that enables women and girls to open up to health service providers. The dialogues have contributed to an increase in health seeking behaviour whereby the women would get treated for Sexual Transmitted Infections and other diseases.
WASN, managed to engage with Radio Ambassador for Radio Zimbabwe Gokwe-Nemanagwe to broadcast the activities to ensure wide coverage.
To reduce re-infections and spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, WASN distributed male and female condoms to Support Group members. In May 2021 WASN only managed to procure 3000 Male and 720 female condoms from Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) .The reason for supplying less condoms was due to shortages at ZNFPC. These were distributed directly to the support group members during the SRHR and Leadership training at Sesame Clinic. In September 2021 WASN secured 12 000 male and 6 ooo female condoms. 8000 male and 2 940 female condoms were given to the clinic so that the Support Group members and communities’ members would come and access if in need. At District AIDS Coordinator, WASN left 3000 male condoms and 900 female condoms. WASN work has resulted in women and girls who have health seeking habits and are able to demand, prevent, access Antenatal services, get Provider Initiated Counselling and Testing, obtain STI treatment, access ARVs timely as well as access Female Condoms without problems.
WASN Promoting Wellness Through Sports
WASN saw the importance of women participating in sports and bought two netballs for the women and girls, promoting psycho-social support in Support Groups through sport and wellness. In addition to improvement in health, women and girls stand to gain social benefits from participation in sports and physical activity. This platform has provided the women and girls in Sesame an alternative avenue for participation in the social and cultural life of their communities and promotes enjoyment of freedom of expression, interpersonal networks, new opportunities and increased self- esteem. WASN created this opportunity to bring the women, girl’s men and boys together, realizing the development issues that relate to Sexual, Reproductive Health and Gender Based Violence in their communities. It is good for their bodies, mental health, provide platform to meet with other women and it boosts their self-esteem and confidence.
