 |
| Joyce Mhungu |
…calls
for access to health facilities, quality service delivery
TellZim Reporter
The second wave
of Covid-19 has brought about a new way of life and doing business across the
globe as the world battles to contain the deadly pandemic which has claimed
over 800 lives in Zimbabwe.
Companies have
closed, jobs have been lost and this has raised tempers in homes, prompting
gross Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases in Zimbabwean homes, with women being
the major victims.
Women advocacy
groups have pledged not to tire in their fight against GBV and for a fair
society where women and men are equal in all aspects.
Speaking during
a recent CEADZ grassroots meeting, Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe Masvingo
Chapter Chair, Joyce Mhungu said her organization was engaging relevant
stakeholders on the service delivery challenges facing women in the Covid-19
induced lockdown.
“We are trying to forward issues affecting
women to relevant authorities especially GBV cases. However, we have noted that
women have so many challenges especially service delivery and access to health
services. In this lockdown we will not tire; we will continue working
tirelessly to achieve an equal society,” said Mhungu.
During the
workshop, local women lamented the inconveniences they claimed they suffer when
they want to access the police Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) especially on weekends
and during holidays.
“Most GBV cases
happen during the night, weekends or holidays and the VFU people don’t work
during those times. It is therefore a great inconvenience and sometimes they
respond at a snail’s pace. Something should be done to improve the way VFU
operates because cases are increasing day by day,” said one participant.
Other women
rights advocacy groups said they have also adapted to the new normal and
efforts to improve the welfare of women in rural areas were underway.
The Institute
for Community Development in Zimbabwe (ICODZIM) has continued to work with
women in rural areas in their effort to improve livelihoods of women in
Masvingo and beyond.
ICODZIM
programs manager, Nyaradzo Mutande said they were in a drive to train health
workers in rural communities and that they were conducting online seminars
advocating for access to Sexual Reproductive Health services during the
lockdown,” said Mutande.
“We have
managed to train a total of 40 women health workers from Zaka and Chiredzi on
rapid response and how they can help the Ministry of Health in the fight
against Covid-19. During this lockdown we are doing advocacy on online
platforms for consistent access to Sexual Reproductive Health services as we
adapt to the new normal,” said Mutande.
