Despite the active COVID 19 induced national lockdown that restricts social gatherings, CYDT has managed to kick start its Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) project by adopting radio programs as a way of reaching out to its target audience.
Two radio programs targeting Gwanda and Matobo were conducted on Skyz Metro FM this week. The radio programs that took the form of talk-shows were 30 minutes long each and involved Nobuhle Moyo from Gwanda, Decent Dube (Matobo Youth Development Initiative), Sitshengisiwe Ndlovu (Matobo Ward 7 Councilor), Thulani Moyo (Gwanda ward 9 Councilor) and Shelton Maphosa (CYDT programs officer) who was responsible for unpacking the SRHR project to the listeners.
Young people bemoaned the limited number of health facilities and the lack of support from the community with regards to their SRHR.
Nobuhle Moyo said that, “in Gwanda, there is only one clinic in Phakama. Some walk miles to get to the clinic. In a situation where a young girl has fallen pregnant or a girl seeking contraceptives at clinic, that particular girl is treated with bad attitude; criticized for engaging in sexual activities rather than being counseled and supported.”
She added that young people end up adopting unsafe ways of taking care of their bodies as they fear the wrath of the community.
Decent Dube from MYDI agreed to the claims made by Nobuhle adding that in Matobo, young people cannot afford to buy sanitary wear and contraceptives leaving them vulnerable to Sexual Transmitted Diseases and unplanned pregnancies.
He encouraged NGOs and the government “to teach and train young people on how to look after their bodies. Let them know they have the right to say ‘no’ to activities they are not comfortable with.”
Improved support from local leaders as they have the power to influence ideas and change community`s attitude in the treatment of girls seeking contraceptives or those that have fallen pregnant was one of the key recommendations suggested during the two radio programs.
Speaking in one of the radio programs, Councillor Ndlovu recognised the importance of SRHR project and said that, “when young people are aware of their rights; in a situation where one has fallen pregnant, that young person has the ability to say I want to keep my baby and avoid abortion,”
She said that parents and local leaders are responsible for supporting the youths; guide and counsel them regularly.
She recommended that since the only existing clinics are over 20 kilometres away from some Wards, health practitioners can carry out tours to various Wards to assist young girls with contraceptives and sanitary pads.
She said that as local leaders, they are responsible for exploring strategies and implementing them to improve the availability of and access to SRHR. She explained that they can locate organisations that can help young people with SRHR knowledge as well as donor companies that can provide sanitary wear for the youths.
In line with Cllr Ndlovu, Cllr Moyo said many girls use tree leaves as sanitary wear leaving them vulnerable to cancer, and promised that as local leaders they will not rest until the SRHR crisis and other challenges affecting youths are solved.
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