Our work in Zimbabwe
Photo: William Nyamuchengwa/OxfamAUS
Once the jewel of Southern Africa, Zimbabwe now finds itself in crisis. With the country’s economy in tatters, and the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS, millions of people face severe food shortages.
Although now stabilised, for a period Zimbabwe’s inflation rate was the highest in the world – making basic foods unaffordable. With the shift to using US dollars, and with unemployment hovering around 90% this still means that many of the poorest don’t have access to money As well as this 1.7 million people are infected with HIV, most unable to afford treatment. Many families have been forced to sell their possessions just to survive.
Care and support
As always, Oxfam’s response is to meet urgent practical needs first. Our programs focus on helping some of the poorest, in particular those affected by HIV and AIDS to receive home based care, to have enough food to eat, ensuring adequate access to health care, and helping people with ways of earning an income. This is vital, because ensuring that people can make a living gives them a chance to withstand Zimbabwe’s instability.
Tackling HIV and AIDS
The economic meltdown is made even worse by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Few Zimbabweans with HIV receive the treatment they need to survive, and few hospitals are equipped to provide adequate care. This means that up to 3,500 people die from AIDS-related illness each week.
Oxfam works with local partners to lower HIV infection rates through resource centres, support groups and education to encourage behaviour change in young people.
We also work closely alongside families affected by HIV and AIDS to provide support and treatment. This involves health education to encourage good hygiene practices and help with accessing appropriate medications. And we engage communities to strengthen their ability to care for people living with HIV or AIDS.
Providing food
Oxfam’s programs in Zimbabwe provide training for families affected by HIV and AIDS to help them establish vegetable and herb gardens to increase nutrition. For those badly affected by the food crisis, particularly in the North West, we also provide food handouts to help vulnerable families cope in the hungry period.
Gender inequality
Gender inequality plays a huge part in HIV infection rates. Our programs strive to educate women and men about legal, sexual and reproductive rights, and we also work right alongside traditional leaders to challenge practices that may be increasing the spread of HIV.
For example, some of our partners work directly with communities to review the practice of wife inheritance and polygamy that can increase women’s vulnerability to HIV. And other programs are working to increase the numbers of men trained as home-based carers, challenging community perception that care is only ‘women’s work’.
Fast facts
- Population:
- 11,392,629 (July 2009 est)
- Population below the poverty line:
- 68%
- Life expectancy:
- 44.77 years
- HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate:
- 15.3%
- Adult literacy:
- 90.7%
- Infant mortality rate:
- 32.31 deaths/1,000 live births
Source: CIA World Fact Book