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Zimbabwe

Living positively despite HIV/AIDS

In Zimbabwe, almost every family is affected by HIV/Aids, especially around the the city Bulawayo. Although more people have access to AIDS medication, many children and young people are unable to access it and die, despite the availability of treatment. Together our local partner organisation MMPZ, we offer them access to life-saving medication and support.

Hear from the people on the ground

"I know how it feels to be HIV-positive. That's why I support other affected young people with home visits, because life is worth living despite HIV/Aids."
Portrait junger Mann Simbabwe

Thabani Mpofu
20 years

Background

The economic and political situation in Zimbabwe is tense. The once prosperous country is severely run down. One third of the population lives on less than 2 US dollars a day. Many young people are unemployed and HIV/Aids is widespread. In Bulawayo, the HIV/Aids rate is over 20%. The disease remains a taboo, which particularly affects children and young people. young people.. They conceal their illness for fear of being stigmatised and therefore often do not receive vital treatment.

Project goals

The aim is to to reduce the mortality rate of children and young people with HIV/AIDS, to improve their living conditions with accompanying measures and to achieve a reduction in new infections.

Project activities

Buddy-System - Jugendliche mit HIV unterstützen sich gegenseitig - terre des hommes schweiz
Photo: Sheila Glasz
  • Medical treatment and support: We work on the MpiloHospital in Bulawayo with trained specialists who provide HIV-positive young people with age-appropriate medical treatment and support.
  • Training of buddies: We train young people who are themselves affected by HIV/AIDS to become buddies.. They support young people at risk and stand by them as friends.
  • Self-help groups: We promote the establishment of self-help groups for HIV-positive young people and provide them with professional support.
  • Sensitization: We sensitize decision-makers from schools, municipalities, churches and hospitals to create child- and youth-friendly structures.
Sensibilisierung in der Gemeinde - Simbabwe - Projekt - terre des hommes schweiz
Sensibilisierung von Entscheidungsträgern aus Schulen, Gemeinden, Kirchen und Spitälern zur Schaffung kinder- und jugendfreundlicher Strukturen. Photo: Sheila Glasz

Beneficiaries

Benefiting from our worktin the the past project phase 2300 HIV-positive young people and 5300 children and young people at schools.

Our partner organization

MMPZ (Million Memory Project Zimbabwe) was founded in 2005. founded and supplements the basic range of state medical care in Bulawayo. terre des hommes switzerland has been supporting MMPZ since 2012.

Project location and phase

The project is being carried out in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city in the southwest of the country, which has been severely affected by the AIDS pandemic. The current project phase covers the years 2025–2027 with an annual budget of CHF 100,000.