School Health Campaigns
Introduction:
Working in rural clinics, made me realize the need to spread our knowledge and wisdom our communities, young and old.
However, my priorities on planning this was directed at educating teenagers. This was compulsory according to our 'Service level agreement'". Thus had adopted one Primary and one High schools, that l mentored.
Importance and focus:
1.Seeing your girls from the age between 9 to 15yrs, visiting family planning clinics in uniforms regularly,
2.Having high statististics of teenage pregnancies and some requesting termination of pregnancies
3.Large numbers of both male and female teenagers, consultations with STI and some testing positive HIV.
Facts :
Demographics of all the above mentioned "Social ills" mostly highlited one are.
Implementation :
I visited the schools weekly, and addressed students in groups, according to their developmental stages. Had a very informal type of a setting. Firstly did situational analysis on life skills / issues they would like to talk about. Then introduced mine as well. We reached a consensus. Sessions went on very well, including questions and answers.
Topics included
-Puberty, menstruation and hygiene
-Reproduction and teenage pregnacy
-Importance of education, decision making, choices and consequences
-Family planning, do's and dont's at an early age
- Quality of life, love and happiness
- STI, HIV and Aids
Outcomes :
It was really pleasing and inspiring to see the attendance levels, and undivided attention displayed, with all sessions. To an extent that students were passing with high marks and good matric pass rate. Some of them are currently in tertiary. Knowledge is powerful. If well accepted, it's yealds Great Good Changes. The main objective of this innitiative was to educate them on making informed decisions and be aware that there're consequences to every decisions made. 🙌
Future Plans: January-April 2023
We have negotiated with large retailers , to sponsor us with sanitory towels, tampons and panty liners . They will be distributed amongst the girls at the two schools chosen. Ongoing counselling , motivation and mentorship will continue
