BACKGROUND
The New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) together with its partners recently launched a campaign tagged “Leaving no Nigerian Behind” (LeNNiB). LeNNiB through its mentorship programme facilitates the empowerment of young people as champions in HIV prevention through structural interventions. United CAC High School was selected by one of the LeNNiB champions as a beneficiary of a 3-day comprehensive HIV & Sex Education for adolescents.
Adolescence is the transition from childhood to adulthood. It is a period where adolescents have a lot of questions on their minds. Questions about their bodies and relationships, but they lack access to the information required as they transition through this phase. Kids & Teens Resource Centre (K&TRC) is supporting one of the LeNNiB champions to close the gap by providing age appropriate scientifically correct information to help adolescents in United CAC make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and also influence their peers positively.
Activity
In this 3-day program, K&TRC and one of the LeNNiB champions focused on educating the adolescents on sex and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) especially HIV; the definition, the types, how it can be contracted, signs and symptoms and how it can be prevented.
One of the facilitators; K&TRC’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning officer, Olushola Balogun was able to use information cards and other pictorial materials to educate the students on STIs, HIV in particular. The causes, effects and mode of transmission. Particularly, the students were thankful for the education when they finally understood the implications of STIs. Thereafter, Shola encouraged them to protect themselves and taught them the ABCDEF of prevention i.e.
- Abstinence from sex
- Be faithful to a partner
- Check your HIV status
- Don’t share sharp objects
- Educate yourself and others
- Follow up with your doctor
Mercy Rowland, founder of Mercy-Speaks Initiative in her session bonded with the students of CAC High School. Sharing her personal life experience of sex, again, keeping their perspective in mind she communicated the essence of sex education. Differentiated common sex facts from myths.
Furthermore, she discussed frequently asked questions on adolescent reproductive health and highlighted sexual health tips for proper conduct. In response, the adolescents opened and shared issues bothering them. They made more inquires, gave contributions based on what they understood and promised to inculcate the lessons learnt.
Conclusion
K&TRC; through this 3-day program educated the students of CAC High school on HIV and Sex Education, which will pave way for great impact in personal hygiene, sexual awareness and development of adolescents. Besides that, it will build the capacity of adolescents in CAC High school on life skills to enable them make healthy and informed decisions in their day to day activities. K&TRC through this program will also contribute to achieving the sustainable development goal “Health and Wellbeing”. Hence, the program covered various informative and educative topics. Topics that addressed subject matters relating to the wellbeing of adolescents
K&TRC usually hold programs such as this under its Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health Program tagged “Knowing Series”.
The Knowing series is an intervention that helps curb social menace such as teenage pregnancy; high risk behavior like unsafe sex and sharing sharp objects.
The knowledge gained by beneficiaries contributes on the reduction of HIV transmission and STIs among adolescents. Most Importantly, this program helps to strengthen peer education amongst adolescents on sex and STIs especially HIV also, life skills and health.
