Story by Jerold Sasa
THE National AIDS Council’s innovative “Sister to Sister” programme is transforming lives in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe, empowering women and girls through education, support, and improved access to healthcare.
Located in Mashonaland East, where rolling hills meet expansive farmlands, the districts of Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe and Chikomba have for years grappled with the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS. The initiative aims to provide much-needed resources and guidance to help communities overcome these challenges.
For years, stigma, misinformation, and limited access to healthcare services left many women and girls vulnerable to infection and without proper support.
However, the arrival of the Sister to Sister programme would change everything.
The programme has trained local women as peer educators, creating a network of ‘sisters’ who could reach deep into communities where formal healthcare systems struggled to make an impact.
“We are very much appreciative of what this programme has done to our community, where accessing the health delivery system and information is at times very scarce, so this has brought services closer home,” Member Melody Katsenge said.
“As a mentor for the programme, I can testify that young girls have benefited tremendously from this program as they have now been empowered in terms of accessing health care and information,” mentor, Shuwai Mukanganga said.
“We are happy that the target groups for this programme have responded very well and more continue coming, and as long as communities are empowered with information, the fight against this pandemic will,” UMP District Aids Coordinator, Owen Mupemhi said.
In Chikomba district, the programme established girls’ clubs in schools and communities, providing comprehensive sexuality education, life skills training, and mentorship.
They also created youth-friendly spaces where young people could access HIV testing, counselling, and contraceptives without judgment.
“Before the sisters came, many girls in my area were dropping out of school due to pregnancy or early marriage, but this has now dropped,” mentor, Tsungai Makwati said.
“The programme taught us about our rights, our bodies, and how to protect ourselves. It is also in the process of ensuring those who dropped out of school return to school,” Christabel Simon said.
“I am very excited that as NAC the sister-to-sister programme has transformed the lives of our young girls here in Chikomba, including those who had dropped out of school and those in child marriages,” Chikomba District Aids Coordinator, Ms Esnath Mugumbate said.
The programme has proved that when women come together as sisters, they can overcome even the most daunting challenges, creating healthier and more empowered communities for generations to come.
