By Virginia Njovo
BIKITA – Bikita District has become the first district to open a dedicated adolescent health
building at Chikuku Rural Hospital, which will enable young people to feel comfortable
seeking medical attention, with trained nurses on hand to provide health, mental, and social
support.
The building was officially opened by the District Development Coordinator Bernard
Hadzirabwi on October 30, 2026, marking a significant step towards improving access to
adolescent-friendly healthcare services.
The project commenced in 2024 at Chikuku Rural Hospital for the Ministry of Health and
Child Care through a collaborative effort involving SolidarMed, the Bikita community, and
students from Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands. The facility, located in
Ward 18 under Chief Budzi, will cover Wards 31, 18, 17, 25, 21 and 26.
The commissioning was attended by various government officials, including Masvingo
District Medical Officer Dr Onward Tendaupenyu, who represented Masvingo Provincial
Medical Director Dr Amadeus Shamu; Bikita District Medical Officer Dr Thalia Mungwari;
Bikita Rural District Council Chairperson Thomas Mataga; SolidarMed Adolescent Health
Project Manager Dr Cordelia Kunzekwenyika; and medical students from Erasmus
University in the Netherlands, among other officers from the organisation.
Speaking during the commissioning, Hadzirabwi, who was the guest of honour, applauded
the community for its cooperation with partners, noting that it contributed around 40 percent
of the total input.
“I want to take this time to applaud the Bikita community for your contributions towards the
completion of this facility, which will help our adolescents have their safe space. Your
contribution ranked around 40 percent, and we cannot ignore that, not forgetting our partners
who assisted during the construction of this facility. The issue of adolescent health is
paramount as they are the youth and the future rests in their hands, so their health should be
prioritized. Therefore, I urge the people of Bikita to utilize this facility,” said Hadzirabwi.
In his remarks Dr Tendaupenyu, encouraged healthcare workers at the facility to remain
professional when working with young people.
“To the healthcare workers, make this a professional space of respect, professional care and
confidentiality so that the young people will continue to come. This is the first adolescent
building in the province, and we will use it to see what needs to be improved so that every
healthcare facility will have this kind of support building for young people,” he said.
Bikita Rural District Council Chairperson Thomas Mataga said the local authority was
looking forward to having a healthcare facility in every ward, with an adolescent support
building at every facility.
“As the local authority, we are looking forward to having a healthcare facility in every ward,
and we are implementing that. Right now, we have seen the good initiative of supporting
young people in our community, and we will be wanting to have this kind of facility at each
and every ward at the clinics,” said Mataga.
In an interview with TellZim News, one young mother, Precious Chimuka of Mamutse
Village under Chief Mazungunye, said young mothers were now comfortable coming to the
facility as they knew there were people ready to listen to them.
“I want to thank whoever came up with this idea and those who made it successful, since as
young mothers we can now come to the clinic knowing there is confidentiality in our issues
and trained professionals who understand us as young adults and will help us in any way we
may need,” said Chimuka.
Adolescent Health Project Manager Dr Kunzekwenyika thanked the Bikita community for its
collaborative contribution from the start of the project to the end.
“I want to thank mainly the Bikita community for their contribution. This community worked
very hard towards the future of their children. As partners, we really appreciate you, Bikita,
not forgetting the medical students from the Netherlands who helped us furnish the building.
This facility was designed to help young people aged 10 to 24 years, offering walk-in
healthcare, sexual and reproductive health services, a secure space to ensure youth have
accurate information, comprehensive HIV services, mental health support, nutrition services,
protection from gender-based violence, life skills and peer education beyond clinical care,
menstrual health and hygiene, and follow-up referrals and adherence support,” said Dr
Kunzekwenyika.
SolidarMed is a non-governmental organisation that works closely with the Ministry of
Health and Child Care to support the National Health Strategy across rural districts. In
Masvingo Province, it particularly covers Bikita, Zaka and Chiredzi districts, supporting
patients with non-communicable diseases and adolescents, among others.
