Zimdailyjournal Senior Reporter
A health community lobby group, Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research (ZICHIRE), with support from the National AIDS Council, is reaching out to boys and young men in vulnerable communities such as Hopley and Epworth through its Brother 2 Brother initiative.
The programme provides safe spaces where boys can access youth-friendly, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services while being groomed into responsible men.
This Friday in Hopley and Epworth, the initiative brought health services closer to the community, with mobile clinics offering free HIV testing, cervical cancer screening and other essential health checks, supported by various partners.
The gala and community outreach was held under the theme: My Health, My Choices, My Future.
Beyond healthcare, the sport-centred intervention uses soccer and other recreational activities as tools for health education, promoting positive behaviour and keeping young people away from drug and substance abuse.
Brother 2 Brother programme so far being implemented in Harare South, Epworth and Marondera districts
The initiative comes against the backdrop of growing health concerns in vulnerable communities, including reported high STI cases in Hopley, highlighting the need for accessible health information and services.
Speaking at the event, ZICHIRE’s Brother 2 Brother Coordinator Tonderai Mushove said the programme seeks to bridge knowledge and healthcare gaps by taking services directly to communities while equipping boys with the knowledge, values and life skills to become responsible men.
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