In Lomahasha, where the roads meet with the warm greetings of neighbors and the traffic of people traveling between Eswatini and Mozambique in the Lubombo region, there is a story that transcends borders. Here, in this busy spot near the Lomahasha Border Gate, lives Nomcebo Sifundza, a 31-year-old mother of two, who is redefining what it means to have agency and access in family planning.
Picture the following: Nomcebo visits Lomahasha clinic, anticipating getting a family planning method of her choice, just to discover an empty space where her choice would have been. She was stuck in limbo, and the thought of an unplanned pregnancy struck her. However, unfazed and enterprising, Nomcebo took this disappointment in her stride. "I simply crossed the border to check if my preferred commodity was not available at the nearby Naamacha clinic," she replied with a smile that belies the hardship most women face.
"I have two children, 10 and 3 years old. Spacing my births has been very crucial to me because I know the importance of family planning. I do not have much, so planning allows me to look after my children as they grow,"
Nomcebo further stated describing what uninterrupted access to family planning commodities meant to her. Each pregnancy is a milestone, and for Nomcebo, timing is everything.
Her job at a local restaurant brings life to one of the busiest crossroad areas in Lomahasha, where both Eswatini citizens and their Mozambican counterparts converge. It is here that Nomcebo recently attended a session on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) facilitated by the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).This was during the Easters’ edition of the caproject, "SRHR-HIV Knows No Borders," campaign spearheaded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Eswatini and Mozambique in partnership with UNFPA and with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom on the Netherlands (EKN). This initiative is paving the way toward better health outcomes for young people and women as well. For Nomcebo, the initiative is beyond a campaign.
"The partnership is a breath of fresh air for Lomahasha," she stated elaborating on the significance of the crossborder partnership in her community.. The region boasts a highly mobile population, constantly under threat of HIV transmission and limited of basic SRHR education. But the introduction of mobile clinics has been nothing short of revolutionary. "The mobile clinics provide us with the freedom to discuss sensitive health issues openly with healthcare workers" Nomcebo added
Picture being able to get answers to your most burning sexual health questions without having to worry about financial burden. "M oney is no longer a barrier to access healthcare at these mobile clinics, the delivered services are+ which provide high-quality services," Nomcebo says, her voice full of gratitude. The young, friendly nurses make it simple to ask questions that usually remain unspoken in traditional clinics, creating a more relaxed environment for clients.
Her visit to the clinic is not without hurdles time being the greatest one. "Running my business keeps my days complete. One clinic visit takes up an entire day due to long queues and multiple consultations, she stated, elaborating the challenges of accessing services in her community facility “I just sometimes wish I could have a quick Depo jab!" Nomcebo stated, jokingly. The mobile clinics have rewritten this narrative, improving access and allowing her to reclaim her time.
Cross-border health partnerships have also enabled women like Nomcebo to take charge of their sexual and reproductive health. "If I don't find what I need in Eswatini, I don't hesitate to go over to Mozambique. The language barrier is no longer an issue because there are interpreters available thanks to the nurses," she explains.
The warmth and hospitality she receives in Mozambique are the same as her own country since both nations provide care regardless of origin. "Mozambicans come to Eswatini for HIV and SRH services, and we are treated just the same as locals," she smiles. In a world where borders often mean division, Nomcebo uses these as a symbol of connecting the power of community, collaboration, and kindness. In Lomahasha, the hope for better health reaches across the borders, overflowing into the lives of many, one woman at a time.
