Lydia Zigomo, UNFPA Regional Director for East and Southern Africa
BY STAFF WRITER
Lydia Zigomo, the Regional Director for East and Southern Africa at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is visiting Zimbabwe on a health and social mission meant to strengthen collaborations with the Government and other partners.
During her visit, she will attend a joint meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for HIV and AIDS, which will be held in Harare.
Zigomo’s country mission aims to advocate for strengthened partnerships between the Government of Zimbabwe and UNFPA in advancing the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Agenda.
She will also acknowledge the key achievements of UNFPA’s program support to the Government of Zimbabwe.
On Monday, she will visit the Sally Mugabe School of Midwifery, focusing on the E-Learning platform. This platform, launched by UNFPA and the Ministry of Health and Child Care with support from the Health Resilience Fund (HRF) on June 20, 2024, serves all nurse and midwifery training institutions in Zimbabwe.
The advancement of technology and internet availability has created opportunities for educators to utilize Information Communication Technologies to improve educational services. The E-Learning Platform aims to standardize learning content across all nursing and midwifery schools in Zimbabwe, enhance access to educational materials for students via web and mobile platforms, and foster research and collaboration among students and tutors.
On Tuesday, Zigomo will visit the Bindura Gender-Based Violence (GBV) One-Stop Centre (OSC), located at Bindura General Hospital. This centre was established under the European Union-supported Spotlight Initiative to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls. The OSC provides comprehensive services, including medical care, counselling, police assistance, and legal support, all under one roof. This integrated approach addresses the challenges faced by survivors who often encounter fragmented services.
On Wednesday, Zigomo will attend the UN Day commemorations at the Rainbow Towers Hotel before participating in the launch of the #72 Hours Campaign by UNFPA and Zimbabwe Cricket.
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), including rape, remains a significant issue in Zimbabwe, with many survivors facing barriers to accessing services within 72 hours of an incident. Fewer than 35 percent report sexual assaults within this timeframe, and many are unable to obtain prophylactic medications to prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
The #72 Hours Campaign, implemented under the Health Resilience Fund (HRF), aims to improve the reporting of SGBV incidents within 72 hours, enabling survivors to access life-saving services. The HRF is funded by the governments of Britain, Ireland, and the European Union.
