Harare, Zimbabwe, 2 March – The United Nations Population Fund today handed over a project vehicle to partner Adult Rape Clinic to facilitate movement of survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) when seeking services and treatment.

The Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey for 2015 confirms that violence against women and girls remains a huge problem with at least 1 in every 3 women aged 15-49 having experienced physical violence since the age of 15 and 27% percent of women in the same age group have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives.

The Adult Rape Clinic provides treatment to survivors of GBV treatment, counselling services and referral services to police and legal services for survivors of rape. It was set up in 2009 at a time when they were very limited services available for survivors of rape.

“Our focus is to spend as much time as possible with the survivor and their family to help them move on after their traumatic experience,” said ARC Board Chairperson Dr. Virginia Iliff at the handover ceremony. “It is very difficult for a survivor to use public transport as we refer them for other support services so the availability of transport will make life much easier for them.”

UNFPA is working with various government partners such as Ministry of Women and Youth Affairs, Ministry of Health and Child Care and Civil Society partners, Msasa Project, Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association and Adult Rape Clinic to prevent GBV and provide services to survivors around the country such as medical treatment, psycho social support and legal services.

“Many survivors of GBV in Zimbabwe fail to access much needed services to help them deal with the trauma,” said UNFPA Country Representative Dr. Esther Muia. “We must spend sleepless nights to ensure we reach each and every survivor with essential services.”

With support from development partners Governments of Ireland, Sweden and Britain UNFPA has set up services throughout the country to reach survivors with various services. In Matabeleland South Province a One Stop Centre (OSC) was set at Gwanda Provincial Hospital that will provide emergency medical treatment and other support services to survivors. In Gweru, Midlands Province another OSC was set up at Gweru Provincial Hospital while in Manicaland province a centre has been set up at Rusape Provincial Hospital. In Harare a 24 Hour clinic has also been set up at Wilkins Hospital in Milton Park. The OSCs provide much needed medical, legal and psyscho social services to survivors at no cost under one roof.

Other services in Harare are available at:

·       Harare One stop Centre and Shelter at Msasa offices, 64 Selous Avenue, Harare

·       Edith Opperman Polyclinic in Mbare

·       Family Support Trust located at Harare Hospital in Southerton

Plans are underway to establish more centres in at least every province in the country to bring more services to survivors. 

By Bertha Shoko