MIRROR REPORTERS 

MASVINGO – The Zimbabwe Association of Church-related Hospitals (ZACH) is conducting the Start, Awareness, Support and Action (SASA) program where it is engaging community and religious leaders over Gender Based Violence (GBV). 

The world is commemorating the 16 days of Activism Against GBV that runs annually from November 25-December 10.

This year’s commemorations are under the theme: Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls. 

An engagement meeting took place on Thursday at the Better School Program (BSPZ) building in Mucheke, Masvingo with councillors, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), the Ministry of Health and Childcare, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and other stakeholders in attendance. 

ZACH programme officer Precious Kahungwa said that they are engaging stakeholders from Masvingo Urban Wards 1 and 7 and Masvingo Rural Wards 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 30 and 32 are where GBV cases are prevalent. 

“We are conducting engagement meetings with community and religious leaders on GBV and how it is affecting girls and women,” she said.

SASA is a four-tier project which entails knowing what GBV is and speaking out about the abuse. The second phase is awareness-raising awareness about GBV, its forms, causes and effects. The third phase, support entails coming together of the victims, perpetrators and those raising awareness to fight GBV. The final stage, action is a sustainable phase that entails getting the power to help each other end GBV. 

Speakers at the engagement included Masvingo District Medical Officer Dr Tinashe Muswe. She urged patients to report if they are ill-treated at medical facilities. 

“You should report if you are ill-treated at any medical facility. We have a code of conduct. If a patient does not have a Police report the least we can do is arrest the bleeding. Our staff is trained and will not disclose confidential information to anyone,” she said. 

Kahungwa said the SASA program began in 2021 and ends this year. 

“The first cycle of the program ran from 2018-2020. The second phase is ending this year having begun in 2021. We hold these engagements quarterly,” she said.