A membership-based Public Health Social Movement Organization (PHSMO), SAYWHAT, which is involved in HIV & AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Advocacy for young people, recently, introduced the STOP TB project at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) following the realisation that TB was the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among people with HIV worldwide.
SAYWHAT was established in 2003 and registered as a Private Voluntary Organization in Zimbabwe and aims to build the capacity of students and college health workers on youth centred, rights-based integrated TB & HIV care and support in ten State Universities in Zimbabwe.
Speaking during the launch of the project, SAYWHAT Senior Programme Officer, Mr Leo Munyonho said his organisation was going to set up partnerships for the effective implementation of the STOP TB project and share the Monitoring and Evaluation planned targets.
“After we realised that HIV & AIDS work hand in hand WITH TB we decided to come up with this programme so that we raise awareness on TB, mental health and the rights based approach in the context of TB & HIV among students living with HIV in Zimbabwe’s Higher Education Sector and to advocate for rights based TB quality care and support services that are free from stigma and discrimination in college health facilities for students living with HIV,” he said.
Mr Munyonho said the programme would be implemented by conducting project inception sensitisation meetings for all the ten targeted universities, recruitment and training of students (TB Champions) in TB Community, Rights and Gender Advocacy and training of Health care workers in TB service delivery packages, among other activities.
BUSE Dean of Students, Mr C Mazodze welcomed the Stop TB initiative and assured SAYWHAT of the University’s undivided devotion to the partnership.
