The gender programme focuses on integrating gender perspectives into the national HIV response to address the unique inequalities between women and men, girls and boys. The programme although biased towards women and girls who are disproportionately affected by the pandemic, it aims to promote equality and human rights, ensuring that gender mainstreaming is a core component of the HIV response. Thus, the programme has also incorporated a male engagement strategy to achieve better outcomes for women and girls while at the same time improving the health seeking behaviour for men.
The programme uses transformative approaches and one of the strategies being implemented is the four phased SASA model (Start, Awareness, Support and Action) aimed at changing individuals' attitudes, community norms and structures by supporting communities through a phased process of change. The model is being implemented through trained SASA Champions in six of Zimbabwe's provinces with support from the Global Fund and NAC.
A Gender and HIV Technical Working Group is in place at national level to provide guidance in ensuring that gender issues are adequately addressed and mainstreamed in all HIV and AIDS programming, policies, strategic information and partner initiatives and financing.
Strengthening the gender coordination mechanisms
Advocacy for development, review and harmonization of gender policy frameworks
Capacity building of key stakeholders and communities to mainstream gender
Review, development and dissemination of appropriate information packages
Addressing cultural factors and norms that continue to put women and girls at risk of HIV infection and constrain their enjoyment of rights
Promoting gender, HIV and human rights approaches at all levels
Strengthening gender indicators for effective monitoring and evaluation
Facilitate mobilization of resources for an effective gendered response
The Workplace has a key role to play in scaling up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support as part of the multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS. In an effort to scale up the workplace response to HIV and AIDS, National AIDS Council together with other key partners have intensified the world of work participation and involvement in the national response by establishment of the Informal Economy HIV and AIDS Council and the Zimbabwe Private Sector HIV and Wellness (ZIPSHAW) Board to coordinate the informal economy and the private sector respectively.
HIV Focal persons have also been established in government ministries. Through these structures national workplace HIV policies and strategic frameworks as well as sector specific polices have been developed to ensure an effective, efficient and well-resourced workplace response to HIV and ADIS.