Media Release,
An Australian-funded scheme is saving and transforming lives of marginalised communities in Mashonaland East, Masvingo and Manicaland Provinces.
With funding from the Australian Government, Zimbabwean NGOs have supported the improvement in the health of more than 13,000 women and children. The funding provides modern family planning methods, child vaccinations, and safe and clean baby delivery services. Nearly 5,000 women smallholder farmers have also improved their agricultural productivity thanks to Australian funding for fertiliser and seeds, and access to agricultural extension services. More than 17,000 people accessed safe and sustainable water, appropriate sanitation and safer hygiene practices.
“NGOs supported by Australia under the AACES program have made a significant contribution to improving women’s and children’s access to clean and safe water, and health services. This has had positive impacts on children’s day-to-day activities such as going to school, and for pregnant women, it has meant safe delivery of healthy babies. We encourage them in their important work in making people’s lives better.” said H.E. Mr Matthew Neuhaus, Australia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe.
Australian-supported NGOs work with private sector healthcare clinics to provide sustainable, cost-effective sexual and reproductive health services. An increase in access to health services means women can make informed decisions on the family planning methods they want. Being able to control how many children they have saves women’s lives and gives them greater control over education for themselves and their children.
The construction of Maternal Waiting Homes has eased the burden for women, reduced maternal and neonatal deaths, transmission of HIV from mother to child and the risk of HIV transmission between those assisting and conducting deliveries. Since the first home was constructed in 2012, there has been significant reduction in the number of babies born HIV positive to 1 percent from an alarming 10 percent before the homes. The provincial and districts government is now rolling the Maternal Waiting Homes to other areas as a model for enhancing maternal and child health.
“The provision of a safe place to deliver has changed our lives, we no longer have to worry about walking long distances while in labour and incurring costs of going to Mutoko district hospital to deliver… the home has brought a lot of benefits such as learning which we did not think initially,” says an expectant women at Kawere Maternity Waiting Home.
In agriculture, distributing seeds and fertilizer involves more than 8,000 smallholder farmers, including women and men with disability. Women farmers were also supported to improve their quality of life by earning additional income. Support through village savings and loans associations under the program is essential to strengthening women’s business while diversifying their incomes.
Farmers’ groups were also assisted in accessing land in kitchen gardens, livestock rearing and business management. Community nutrition gardens and conservation agriculture have enhanced food availability for target households, and families are now reporting having healthier children, as they are able to feed their children with nutritious food. The gardens have also reduced domestic violence as evidenced through midterm review findings, where women reported that their ability to contribute towards provision of food in the home has reduced the burden on husbands.
“Conservation agriculture increased my yield from 40 kgs of maize to 500 kgs”, says a 77-year-old widow.
The Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES) is implemented in Zimbabwe by Community Technology Development Trust and Plan International Zimbabwe.
The AACES Annual Report is available at http://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/aaces-annual-report-2013-14.aspx
Notes to Editors
About AACES
AACES is a partnership of the Australian Government, ten Australian Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and their Africa-based partners. The 90 million Australian dollar program is funded by the Australian Government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The program focuses on marginalised communities, with particular attention to women, children, people with disability and people vulnerable to disaster. It is being implemented in 11 African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
About ACBF
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) was contracted in January 2012 by the Australian Government as the Resource Facility manager for the Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES). The role of the Resource Facility is to provide timely, efficient, and effective logistical, administrative and technical support to AACES. In this respect, the Resource Facility supports the communication, coordination and management of AACES.
For further information contact:
Alice Oyaro, Senior Program Manager, Civil Society, DFAT
Phone: +254 20 427 7272, Email: Alice.Oyaro@dfat.gov.au
Douglas Waudo, Communications Officer, AACES
Phone: +254 723 911 145, Email: d.waudo@acbf-pact.org
