HIV and Aids Prevention from a Gender Specific Perspective

Through Information, Education and Communication Women and Aids Support Network (WASN) launches a new model for HIV prevention focusing on women’s and girls’ reproductive health and rights.

By Claudia Juhl, MS-Zimbabwe

On 23rd March 2004 WASN presented a new model for HIV/Aids prevention at a reception at Sheraton Hotel, Harare.

The model is based on findings and experiences gained from a pilot project in Chikwaka communal area in Goromonzi district. WASN started working in Chikwaka in 1999 after reconnaissance missions revealed that women and girls generally lack access to information and suffer from sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Furthermore many women can not negotiate for the use of condoms and do also face problems to communicate with their children on issues related to HIV/Aids.

WASN felt the need to enhance the level of communication and information and enable women and girls to deal with problems that are socially and economically related to HIV / Aids at a personal level. The aim was to create an atmosphere where women and girls enjoy their full sexual and reproductive health and rights through gender specific interventions.

Three years down the line a review of the interventions revealed a number of positive changes such as a highly reduced rate of unwanted pregnancies among school girls, active involvement of local leaders and churches in the campaign against Aids and a better child-parent communication.

In view of these results recommendations were made that WASN should task itself to develop a common model and produce education materials that can be used by other NGOs, particularly Aids Service Organisations and community based organisations working with HIV/Aids and reproductive health.

WASN accepted the challenge and has now developed a model for HIV prevention from a gender specific perspective combined with a package of information and education materials.

The main objective of the model is to provide support to women and girls and create an environment where they can exercise their full sexual and reproductive health and rights. Secondly the model strives to impart communication and assertiveness skills to women and girls to enable them to make confident and informed decisions.

The model consist of the following components:
1. Entertainment and education

2. Integration of the health system

3. Creation of a supportive environment for women and girls in which they would enjoy their full sexual and reproductive health and rights in the era of HVI/Aids

4. Mobilization of the community and church leaders

5. Reproductive Health Package

The information material called the “Reproductive Health Package” includes a series of booklets on central issues related to women’s and girls’ reproductive health and rights:

Sex and Sexuality
Communication and Assertiveness
Sexually transmitted Infections
HIV/Aids
Nutrition and HIV/Aids

At the present moment most of the booklets are available in English and Shona while WASN is still working on translating the material into other local languages.

The making of the model was realized through support by HIVOS, MS-Zimbabwe, the Netherlands Embassy, Women Connect, Oxfam Canada, SAT and CIDA.

At the launch the Canadian Ambassador handed over a cheque of 255 000 000 Z$ to WASN for replicating the model. These money will be used to spread the model among organizations working with HIV/Aids in Zimbabwe and assist partners to implement supportive interventions to enhance women’s and girl’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.

You can find more information about the model and download some of the material on WASN’s website:
www.wasn.org.zw