Zimbabwe

Endocrine Southern Africa Trust Child and Youth Care (in partnership with CYC Zimbabwe)

The Endocrine Southern Africa Trust and Child and Youth Care (in partnership with CYC Zimbabwe) are leading a capacity-building initiative aimed at improving surgical care and support for individuals with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) in Zimbabwe. This project seeks to bridge critical gaps in medical knowledge, access to treatment, and psychosocial support for CAH patients and their families.

The specific objectives include conducting in-depth interviews to understand the experiences, challenges, and expectations of CAH patients, facilitating workshops with medical professionals, and providing pre-surgical counseling sessions for caregivers and families.

This workshop will bring together CAH patients, caregivers, and a panel of healthcare professionals, including pediatric endocrinologists and surgeons, to provide guidance on surgical pathways, medical management, and psychosocial well-being.

The CAH community in Zimbabwe faces significant challenges, including limited awareness about surgical interventions, high medication costs, and inadequate pre- and post-operative support. This initiative will address these barriers by enhancing knowledge on CAH surgery, reducing stigma, and empowering families with accurate medical information.
By engaging healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups, and national hospitals, the project will strengthen referral pathways, ensuring that CAH patients receive the necessary surgical interventions and ongoing medical care. The long-term goal is to improve healthcare access, enhance treatment outcomes, and establish a sustainable support system for individuals living with CAH in Zimbabwe.

@MATES4Kids is an international movement committed to reducing the preventable mortality associated with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). CLAN (Caring & Living As Neighbours) is the founding Secretariat of @MATES4Kids and this Activity Report captures key initiatives and achievements of the movement from January 2022 to June 2023.

Acknowledgement of Country. In the spirit of reconciliation, @MATES4Kids acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and the connections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to land, sea and community. In particular, we acknowledge the Wallumedegal Peoples of the Eora Nation, on whose land CLAN (Caring & Living As Neighbours) is headquartered. We pay our respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all First Nations leaders around the world.