Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
CHIEFS from Matabeleland South and other stakeholders have gathered in Bulawayo for the “Not in My Village” Campaign, an initiative aimed at enhancing the involvement of traditional leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS and child marriages.
The programme inception meeting, organised by the National AIDS Council (NAC), provides a platform for chiefs and stakeholders to discuss strategies for combating HIV/AIDS and addressing social challenges contributing to the spread of the disease in their communities.
Launched last year as a pilot programme in Mashonaland Central, “Not in My Village” is now being rolled out to other provinces, including Matabeleland South. The campaign seeks to promote inclusivity and community-driven solutions in the fight against HIV/AIDS while addressing issues such as teenage pregnancies and child marriages, which deprive children of their childhood, education, health, and future opportunities.
Child marriages in the province are driven by interrelated factors such as poverty, gender norms, cultural and religious beliefs, and lack of access to services and information. The campaign aims to raise awareness and mobilise action by engaging traditional leaders to end child marriages.
Key objectives of the campaign include: Increasing knowledge and awareness among traditional leaders and the public about the causes and consequences of child marriage, changing attitudes and behaviours of community gatekeepers and the general public towards child marriage, promoting the rights and well-being of girls, empowering communities to take action to prevent and respond to child marriage and supporting the implementation and enforcement of laws and policies protecting girls from child marriage.
The “Not in My Village” Campaign is part of NAC’s broader strategy to ensure no one and no place is left behind in the efforts to eradicate HIV/AIDS and related social challenges.
