Purpose
Having access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services is imperative to a person’s overall well-being. Pangaea Zimbabwe established the SHAZ! Hub to empower adolescents and young adults to make informed decisions about their health and future.
SHAZ! —which stands for Shaping Adolescent Health in Zimbabwe—is a youth-friendly drop-in centre and comprehensive sexual health clinic for individuals aged 16–24 years, located at CitiMed Hospital (Ward B) in Chitungwiza. Operating since 2003, it initially served as an NIH research clinic and has since evolved into a “safe space” where young people can access confidential SRH services, receive mentorship, gain life skills, and engage in educational and recreational activities.
The purpose of SHAZ! Hub is to create a supportive environment that promotes positive youth development, enhances access to quality SRH care, and nurtures the physical, emotional, and social well-being of adolescents and young adults.
Target Population
- Adolescents and young adults aged 16–24 years ( including young key populations such as young men who have sex with men (MSM), young girls selling sex, young female sex workers, and transgender youth).
Geographic Location
Chitungwiza SHAZ! Hub — located at CitiMed Hospital (Ward B)
Mazowe SHAZ! Hub — located at 1068 Westview, Glendale (near Twin Baobab School)
Key Strategies
- To improve access to comprehensive youth-friendly HIV prevention and SRH services to AGYW and ABYM.
- To build the capacity of healthcare workers in Seke and Mazowe districts to provide comprehensive and quality youth-friendly HIV/SRH and KP-friendly services.
- To enhance knowledge on HIV prevention, care and treatment, and SRHR services among AGYW and ABYM.
- To raise awareness, improve availability, and increase uptake and continuation of various HIV prevention methods for AGYW and ABYM.
- To improve the livelihoods of AGYW and ABYM through economic empowerment.
Major Activities
Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
HIV testing, STI screening and treatment, pregnancy testing, and counselling sessions.
Provision of short- to medium-term contraception and treatment of minor ailments.
Linkages to Population Services Zimbabwe for long-acting contraceptive methods (implants).
HIV Prevention and Care
Provision of oral PrEP for HIV-negative adolescents and young people at high risk of infection.
Access to voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC).
Linkages to OI/ART clinics at CitiMed and Chitungwiza Hospital for clients living with HIV.
Adherence and psychosocial support provided through counsellors and peer supporters in collaboration with Zvandiri.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
Referrals for mental health support through Friendship Bench.
Peer-led mentorship and life skills sessions promoting self-esteem and emotional wellbeing.
Economic Empowerment and Life Skills
Skills-building sessions such as making pine gel, dishwashing liquid, and other income-generating activities.
Empowering adolescents and young people to enhance self-reliance and resilience.
Research and Program Innovation
Hosting of projects at the Chitungwiza SHAZ! Hub including:
Combination HIV Prevention (CHIP) Project
SHAZ! Hub collaborates with:
Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ) for long-acting family planning methods
Population Services International (PSI) for PrEP provision
Zvandiri for peer support and adherence counselling
Friendship Bench for mental health referrals
Tsungubvi Clinic for OI/ART and long-term contraception services in Mazowe
Outcomes
Increased access to youth-friendly SRH and HIV services among adolescents and young adults.
Improved uptake of PrEP, contraception, and HIV care services.
Strengthened linkage to mental health and psychosocial support.
Enhanced economic empowerment and life skills among young people.
Reduced stigma and improved inclusion of young key populations.
Evidence generation to inform youth-centred HIV prevention and SRH programming.
Testimony
“My mother passed away. My sister brought me up since when I was young. Since my sister was unemployed, I stopped going to school in Form 2. I started doing sex work in bars. That is how I earn a living. I support my younger siblings through this work. That’s how I am getting food on the table. I was always afraid of getting HIV. Not all clients agree to use a condom during sex, and they pay more for unprotected sex. I got a SHAZ! Hub flier from another young lady in our community who works as a CHIP Champion, which talked about PrEP as an option for HIV prevention. I was a bit hesitant to go but after a scary encounter with a client, I decided to just visit the clinic. I remember how I was so scared but the friendly staff at the hospital made me feel so welcome. They were not judgmental of the life that I was living. Instead, they told me of all the available options that I had to protect myself from HIV. I had never heard of oral PrEP before. Ever since I started going to the hub for services, I have felt so supported. I have even invited friends to like me for STI treatments.” Young FSW, 19 years.
Monitoring & Learning
Continuous service delivery monitoring and evaluation at both hubs.
Use of peer feedback and youth engagement tools to optimize program design.
Evidence generation through ongoing studies such as MOSAIC’s CATALYST to inform SRH interventions.
Scaling of the SHAZ! “safe space” model as a best practice in youth-friendly health service delivery.
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