For the young sex workers of Mbare and Epworth, Zimbabwe, the streets are more than a workplace—they are a battlefield. Violence, stigma, and a lack of access to healthcare have long defined their lives. However, a growing network of empowered young women, supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), is rewriting this narrative. These young women are not only accessing essential healthcare services but are also stepping up as peer educators, bridging the gap between their communities and life-saving care.
Since 2016, MSF has been working in Zimbabwe, providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to adolescents and young people in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care. The integrated approach includes STI and HIV screening and treatment, family planning, mental health counseling, and psychosocial support. In 2024 alone, MSF provided over 8,400 consultations, many to vulnerable populations like young sex workers in Mbare alone.