Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services in Zimbabwe has remained a challenge, not due to a lack of services, but because of how care has been delivered. In Masvingo Province, negative provider attitudes, such as judgement, breaches of confidentiality, and moralistic counselling, have continued to discourage young people and key populations from seeking care.
To address this gap , My Age Africa convened a two-day Values Clarification and Attitude Transformation (VCAT) workshop with ten service providers drawn from key institutions including Masvingo General Hospital, Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council, National AIDS Council and others.
The workshop provided a safe space for participants to reflect on how personal beliefs, cultural norms and system pressures influence their interactions with clients. Through participatory methods including role-plays, case studies and edutainment providers engaged with the lived realities of adolescents, sex workers, and people living with HIV.
The initiative aimed to reduce stigma and discrimination in service delivery, strengthen respectful and confidential care, and align provider practices with National Health Policies and SRHR commitments. Pre- and post-assessments, along with follow-up reviews, were used to track progress and support sustained change. By transforming provider attitudes, this initiative sought to improve service uptake and health outcomes for vulnerable populations across Masvingo.
At the end of the workshop, participants showed improved awareness of personal biases and a stronger commitment to delivering respectful, non-judgemental, and confidential SRHR services, supported by practical action plans to improve care in their facilities.
