Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
THIRTY adolescents from Hwange District have been trained to champion sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) using mobile technology, as part of an innovative programme aimed at promoting youth-led social accountability.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Southern African HIV and Aids Information Dissemination Service (SAfAids), in collaboration with Buwalo Matalikilo Trust (BMT), seeks to empower rural and marginalised young people to engage health service providers and policymakers in improving SRHR services in their communities.
The adolescents, mostly from Makwandara, Change and Empumalanga wards, underwent a refresher course in Lukosi, under the Mobile Social Accountability Monitoring (Mobi SAfAids) platform, a mobile application designed to allow young people to raise concerns or give feedback anonymously on the quality of health services they receive. Supported by the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida), the project also saw the launch of a Youth Friendly Corner at Lukosi Hospital, a move hailed as a major boost for rural youth access to SRHR services.
Speaking during the training, BMT director Mrs Anna Mandizha-Ncube, said the application was playing a pivotal role in improving access to services by creating a safe space for adolescents to engage health workers.
“Our mobile application (Mobi SAfAids) allows the young boys and girls to put across complaints or compliments — what we call tickets — in a private and secure manner, unlike suggestion boxes. Since we started working with these champions, we have seen improvements in how young people access SRHR services in their local clinics,” she said.
Mrs Mandizha-Ncube said the project was targeting adolescents aged 10 to 24, a demographic identified as highly vulnerable to early sexual debut, teen pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
She acknowledged resistance from some parents, but stressed the need for open dialogue, given the realities on the ground.
“Some parents say we’re encouraging children to be sexually active, but the truth is that children as young as 10 are already engaging in sex. Our Constitution guarantees them the right to access information on SRHR,” she said.
Initial research in Hwange revealed that only seven percent of young people had ever engaged directly with health service providers, highlighting the need for inclusive platforms like Mobi SAfAids.
The refresher training equipped the young champions — also known as Social Accountability Monitors (SAMs) — with tools to not only share information with their peers, but also advocate for changes in SRHR policy and service delivery.
One champion from Makwandara Ward said many rural youths remained disadvantaged due to lack of information and resources.
“Unlike urban youth, we don’t have access to much information. Many young people here fall pregnant or drop out of school because they lack knowledge. We need more youth-friendly corners in our clinics,” said the champion.
The champions work closely with service providers at St Patrick’s Hospital, Lukosi Hospital and Makwandara Clinic, where the use of the app has led to noticeable improvements in the provision of youth services.
Accessible on both Google Play Store and desktop, the Mobi SAfAids platform allows users to register and engage directly with trained health facility administrators, creating a confidential and interactive digital space for health-related discussions.
SAfAids Zimbabwe Country Representative, who attended the refresher training and stakeholder meeting, said the organisation is focusing on reducing early and unplanned pregnancies, gender-based violence and unsafe abortions among young women.
The meeting also explored the long-term sustainability of the project in rural communities.
“This initiative has opened new doors for meaningful youth engagement in health service delivery and policy development.
“It’s not just about awareness — it’s about creating an empowered generation that can speak out and act,” said the official.
