Gwenn speaks…
In most societies, women and girls face
power imbalances, unequal opportunities, discrimination and human rights
violations including widespread violence inside and outside the home. In
Zimbabwe, out of the estimated 1 023 038 adults living with HIV, 608 700 are
both young and adult women. The high HIV prevalence among women is a result of
the engendered nature of decision making in our country and continent.
Young
women’s state of limited access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) information
and services as well as limited skills and ability to negotiate for safer sex, including
condom use have placed many of us at high risk. Given this background, I
believe with the given opportunity to be part of the Young Women Leadership
programme as an advocate and leader representing young women I will be able to
make a difference.
Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH)
challenges remain a challenge for girls and women in our continent and these
have been causing a range of negative effects including unplanned pregnancies,
unsafe abortions, increased number of sexual violation cases and new STI/HIV
infections. These SRH challenges are profoundly embedded in the social,
cultural and political fabric of our society and as a young woman with enthusiasm
and who is empowered with skills and abilities, I believe together with other
young women in SAWYNet we will address these challenges and proffer solutions
the world has been waiting for.
“The participation of a young woman for
the good of all girls and women will be the most powerful ray of hope for the
generations to come.” (Gwenn T.T Chimuti 2011)
With regards to Adolescent
Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) and HIV and AIDS, being a young person
with a strong passion for other youths and a leader have positioned me to
better understand the trends, challenges, gaps and achievements in ASRH and HIV
programming in Zimbabwe and this has been a place of advantage as I am now well
informed. Meaningful involvement and participation have been experiences that made
me realize that the future of young people in Zimbabwe and their sexual and
reproductive health lies with how I represent them. A strong sense of
responsibility and accountability are traits that have been instilled in me
over the years and I believe together with SAWYNet youth leaders our continent
will be a “haven” for all youths.
I’m a young person who believes
in touching people’s lives and making a difference and as a leader I believe I
will be able to mentor many young people who will also rise and develop our
African continent. Volunteerism has proven to me the best way to sustainable
development and has many other benefits like curbing the challenge of
unemployment and enables the young people to gain experience and skill without
much cost.
A time will come and now is …
when the most unforeseen and almost forgotten being will change the world. The
SAWYNet team – Young vibrant and powerful team of young women is here and will
surely turn the tide for the good of humanity!!!
It is disheartening to note that more than half of the population living with HIV in Zimbabwe are young girls and women (18-25 years). Over the 20 plus years that HIV has caused havoc, a lot has been done on different fronts to curb the disease. Zimbabwe has made tremendous strides lowering the prevalence rate to 13.4% from 24% (off head statistics). By and large empowerment of the girl child has been pivotal to this. Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights issues have been brought to the fore using different platforms and various media channels. Yes, knowledge is power but unfortunately on the socio-economic ladder women still anchor the bottom. As such empowerment should go beyond information dissemination. One particular situation comes to mind were a few weeks ago a South African newspaper reported about some female university students at a South African University in the Eastern Cape who have resorted to prostitution in order to pay their way through their studies. Arguably these students have all the information they need to make informed decisions about their SRH like abstinence and/or negotiating for safe sex but this information will not pay their tuition! Another catching story is that of the “octuplet” mother (she gave birth to 8 kids at once in addition to the 6 she already had 3 years ago) who has resorted to filming pornography to fend for her unexpectedly big family. Is it that when the going gets tough the options for women to make ends meet are but one? Many women have gone out and made it but these cases cited above are mind boggling and set the wrong precedence for other young women out there thus derailing the progress already made to empower women. Economic empowerment should accompany the knowledge given to women to help them enjoy life more so their SRH.
ReplyDeleteAn enabling environment also needs to be created were the empowered women will exercise and enjoy their SRHR. This means boys and men should be empowered as well so that some toxic masculinity traits in some men are nipped. Women do not live in isolation and the various structures and systems that affect and influence their SRH need to be fine tuned to create the desired balance.
Sexual reproductive health Access is just but one piece to the equation that needs addressing. There are other A’s which include Availability, Affordability and Acceptability of SRH services. Over and above HIV and AIDS are intrinsic and complex and thus require a holistic approach to at least minimize the prevalence of the epidemic.
None the less the network seems to be doing a good job. I understand you cannot do it all and everyone has a part to play in this fight.
Albert Kagande
Thank you so much Albert and we beleive our efforts as young women will surely bear much fruit!!!
DeleteYour support is greatly appreciated!!!