By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
THE Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights – HIV Knows No Borders (SRHR-HIV KNB) project, implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has made significant strides in addressing health vulnerabilities along the Beitbridge migration corridor.
Beitbridge, one of Zimbabwe’s busiest border districts, experiences high levels of migration, exposing communities to increased risks related to HIV, limited access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, poverty and gender-based violence.
The SRHR-HIV KNB project was designed to directly respond to these challenges.
The regional initiative is being implemented in South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and is funded by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
It primarily targeted migrants, sex workers, young vulnerable people and youth in migration-affected communities.
In collaboration with local stakeholders, 10 implementation sites were identified across Beitbridge District, mainly along the migration route, to ensure services reached high-risk and hard-to-access populations.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of 430 Beneficiaries on Thursday, the Chief of Mission at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Diana Carter, said the project in Zimbabwe responded to the lived realities of border communities.
“This project responded to the reality of border communities, particularly here and around Lightbridge, where migration, poverty and limited access to health services heighten vulnerabilities,” she said.
She said the project aimed to improve access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services, HIV prevention, testing and treatment, as well as sexual and gender-based violence prevention and support.
Youth empowerment and social protection were also central to reducing vulnerability among affected groups.
Carter acknowledged the strong partnerships that made the project successful, including collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and the Ministry of Health and Child Care, which deployed a mobile clinic to extend SRH and HIV services to remote and underserved areas.
Community forums established under the programme brought together migrants, sex workers, young vulnerable persons, traditional leaders, religious leaders and other community gatekeepers.
These platforms created safe spaces for dialogue, helping to break stigma and promote collective solutions.
Presenting the project overview, Nhamo Muleya IOM District Project Officer, said the initiative sought to strengthen demand for SRH and HIV information and services, improve the supply of youth-, migrant- and sex worker-centred services and skills training, and create an enabling environment that respects the rights of vulnerable populations.
He said the project also supported the implementation of regional frameworks such as those of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), aligning them with national policies at local level.
The graduation of 430 beneficiaries signals the project’s impact in reducing health vulnerabilities along the Beitbridge migration route and strengthening protection systems for communities often left at the margins.