Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe) is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. The country is mostly savanna, although the moist and mountainous east supports tropical evergreen and hardwood forests.

Zimbabwe has a high HIV prevalence as well as a high maternal, neonatal and child mortality burden.

• The 2010/11 ZDHS National HIV estimates showed an adult HIV prevalence rate of approximately 15%.
• Maternal mortality ratio has been on the increase; from 283/100,000 live births in 1994, to 695/100,000 live births in 1999; before showing signs of slight decline to 555/100 000 live births (ZDHS 2005/6); and significantly increasing to 960 deaths per 100 000 live births (ZDHS 2010/11). This translates to about 10 women dying every day of pregnancy related complications.
• The Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Study of 2007 indicated that HIV and AIDS related deaths account for 25% of all maternal deaths.

The project in Zimbabwe will work towards strengthening linkages and integration between SRHR and HIV policies, programs and services through a 4 year sub-regional project between 2011 and 2015.

Key accomplishments to date
Project Operationalization: The project provides support to Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in implementing integrated services.
To operationalize the project, committees were formed along the project’s key components. These committees meet regularly and are instrumental in implementation of the project. The establishment of the committees highlights the commitment and buy-in by stakeholders in promoting integration. These committees include:

• National Technical Committee on SRHR and HIV Linkages
• Service Guidelines and Training subcommittee
• The Advocacy and Publicity subcommittee
• Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Working Group

Best Practices Documentation and Dissemination: In 2011 a best practice on Training of Health Providers on Integrated Maternal and Neonatal Care and Comprehensive Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission was documented with support from EU funds. The training equipped health care service providers with the knowledge and life-skills in integrated maternal and neonatal care services, HIV prevention and ART to prevent mother to child transmission. The best practice was shared at the ICASA 2011 as well as with UNFPA staff globally through webinar. It was also shared during the Family Planning Summit in London in July 2012.

Partners

• Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Zimbabwe
• UNFPA
• UNAIDS

To find out more about this project click here

Resources

Step by Step Approach to Development of SRH and HIV Linkages Service Guidelines in Zimbabwe.
A PowerPoint Presentation from the 3rd RPSC meeting – 23 September 2013
Year 2013 | Authors: UNAIDS, UNFPA, EU, Ministry of Health, Zimbabwe
A presentation detailing the process involved in the development of integrated SRH and HIV service delivery guidelines.
(Download PDF)

Summary of the Zimbabwe National Rapid Assessment of Sexual and Reproductive health (SRH) and HIV integration and linkages report, 2010
Year 2010 | Authors: National AIDS Council, Zimbabwe, UNAIDS, EU, UNFPA
(Download PDF)

Rapid assessment of sexual and reproductive health and HIV linkages: Zimbabwe.
Year 2012 | Authors IPPF, UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS
This summary highlights the experiences, results and actions from the implementation of the Rapid Assessment Tool for Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Linkages in Zimbabwe.
(Download PDF)

For further information about the SRHR and HIV linkages project in Southern Africa, please contact

Daisy Nyamukapa
Email: Nyamukapa@unfpa.org
Mobile:+263 43378836

Fatima Mhuriro
Emial: fmhuriro@yahoo.co.uk