SHAZ! HUB
About the SHAZ! Hub
Having access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services is imperative to a person’s overall well-being. Pangaea Zimbabwe established the SHAZ! Hub to empower adolescents and young adults to make informed decisions about their health and future.
SHAZ! —which stands for Shaping Adolescent Health in Zimbabwe—is a youth-friendly drop-in centre and comprehensive sexual health clinic for individuals aged 16–24 years ( including young key populations such as young men who have sex with men (MSM), young girls selling sex, young female sex workers, and transgender youth). , located at CitiMed Hospital (Ward B) in Chitungwiza. Operating since 2003, it initially served as an NIH research clinic and has since evolved into a “safe space” where young people can access confidential SRH services, receive mentorship, gain life skills, and engage in educational and recreational activities.
The purpose of SHAZ! Hub is to create a supportive environment that promotes positive youth development, enhances access to quality SRH care, and nurtures the physical, emotional, and social well-being of adolescents and young adults. At the same time, strengthening the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver quality, youth-friendly and key population-friendly services, while increasing knowledge of HIV prevention, treatment, care, and SRHR.
Focus Area
Through a combination of health service delivery, psychosocial support, and economic empowerment interventions, the project promotes the uptake of HIV prevention methods and supports young people to make informed decisions about their health and future. Implementation is anchored in an integrated package of services that includes HIV testing, STI screening and treatment, pregnancy testing, family planning, counselling, and referrals for specialized SRH services. HIV prevention and care interventions, such as oral PrEP, voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), adherence support, and linkages to ART services, are complemented by mental health and psychosocial support through peer mentorship, life skills training, and referrals for professional care. To address broader social and economic determinants of health, the project also provides skills-building and income-generating opportunities that enhance self-reliance and resilience among adolescents and young people. Together, these interventions contribute to improved health outcomes, increased service uptake, strengthened psychosocial wellbeing, and greater economic empowerment.
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Sites: Chitungwiza and Mazowe
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K+
AYP reached since inception
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Community Outreaches conducted
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Research Studies Conducted at the Hub
Research and Innovation Hub
Beyond service delivery, SHAZ! Hub also serves as a platform for Pangaea Zimbabwe’s research and programme innovation activities. Several PZ projects and studies have been housed within the Hub, providing an opportunity to generate evidence and test approaches designed to improve HIV prevention and SRH programming for young people. Among these are the CATALYST Study and the CARES Study.
