Bulawayo Health Workers Trained to Support Youth with Disabilities
Written by Skyz Metro FM on June 16, 2025
16 June 2025
By Kenneth K Nyika
The National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe (NCDPZ) has wrapped up a three-day training workshop in Bulawayo aimed at improving access to sexual and reproductive health services for young people with disabilities.
Held at under the theme “Breaking Barriers: Advancing SRHR Access for Young People with Disabilities in Zimbabwe,” the training brought together nurses from 23 Bulawayo City Council clinics.
Speaking in an interview with Skyz Metro FM, NCDPZ Programmes Manager Praise Ndebele said the training falls under the “My Body, My Future” initiative, which promotes inclusive healthcare and empowers young people with disabilities to take charge of their health and well-being.
“Addressing the common societal belief that people with disabilities are ‘asexual beings’ without sexual feelings, Ndebele stated, ‘What we are pushing is awareness.’ They stressed that this awareness drive is directly linked to improving service delivery for this often-overlooked aspect of life for persons with disabilities.”
“Are services truly inclusive and responsive to their specific needs?” questioned Ndebele, advocating for more equitable service provision for people with disabilities. He explained that since “disability is not a homogeneous group,” individuals with visual, hearing, physical, or intellectual impairments all require distinct and personalized support.
Thabo Sibanda, Programmes Officer at the Sexual Rights Centre (SRC), welcomed the initiative, saying it tackles the structural and social barriers that often prevent young people with disabilities from accessing essential services.
“A lot of people with disabilities don’t access health facilities as much as we’d love them to,” Sibanda explained, attributing this to “issues to do with stigmatization, discrimination and fear of being misunderstood.” He added, “So we are grateful that City Health took up the button to train their clinicians, so that they’re able to provide health services to people living with, to people with disabilities.”
One of the participants, Petronella Ndebele, said the training offered practical skills and knowledge to help service providers deliver more inclusive and responsive care.
The workshop was held in partnership with Plan International Zimbabwe and the Sexual Rights Centre.
Skyz Metro FM