Girls caught up between rock and hard place
of improvement in the health-seeking behaviours of the apostolic church women.
“Some women even visit clinics secretly to get help while others would go to Shurugwi Hospital or Zvamabande clinic at Donga away from the community,” she said.
Peter Muzarakuza, the National Aids Council (NAC) district Aids coordinator for Shurugwi said they were working with a number of organisations in addressing issues that drive the spread of HIV.
“In this mining area of Shurugwi, there is thehigh risk of women in the apostolic sects engaging in unprotected sex because of their religious beliefs that family planning is against reproduction,” he said.
“The majority of girls and young women are married off early and are often faced with violence.”
According to data from NAC, Shurugwi is the epicentre of HIV in the Midlands Province, with the highest HIV infection rate of 15,62% while the HIV incidence rate is pegged at 0,4%.
Muzarakuza said Awet programmes in ward 18 were meant to help adolescent girls and young women embrace sexual and reproductive health rights.
Revesai said they noted some change of behaviour in the community.
“We conduct behaviour change training focusing on basic facts about HIV, hygiene, and the menstrual cycle and we noted a lot of change,” she said.
“A significant number of apostolic members are being tested for HIV, especially when they come for neonatal booking.
“The need for health education is high among the Marange Apostolic sect.”
Revesai said the apostolic church members were now making their own sanitary wear with funding from Unki Mine for personal use, for donation in the community, and resale at a lower price.
“We recently purchased 30 singer sewing machines and two over-locking machines for use by the girls and young women in manufacturing the sanitary pads,” she said.
NAC provincial manager for Midlands Mambeu Shumba said they have come up with a cocktail of intervention programmes in mining communities such as Shurugwi.
“We have programmes where we raise awareness on HIV and Aids, especially targeting these hotspot areas like Shurugwi,” he said.
“We also have peer-led intervention programmes in these communities and we also have condom distribution programmes.”
Mambeu said they have also partnered a number of organisations to address other issues such as gender-based violence, which is rife in mining communities.
Gender-based violence is a cause and consequence of HIV — it increases the risk of HIV transmission and is used against people living with HIV and key populations at higher risk of HIV infection.
According to UNAids, in 2020, 4 900 young women or adolescent girls aged 15-24 became infected with HIV every week.
One in three women and adolescent girls around the world have suffered physical and/or sexual violence from their husbands, male partners or strangers.
“Gender-based violence is rampant here, particularly for adolescent girls and young women who have to endure the violent illegal gold miners and apostolic church members,” Dhavu said.
“We need to get rid of these harmful practices.” Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said no one was above the law and communities should report to the police any act of violence.
“Everyone is subject to the constitution and the law and no-one including Mabhuru is above the law,” he said.
“As police we are mandated to protect communities, including those with rogue elements. “We only act when a report is made.” Mahoko encouraged communities to report cases of gender-based violence and other forms of violence.
* Not her real name