Home Health Need for youth friendly corners amplified

Need for youth friendly corners amplified

by commuadmin

CommuTalk Reporter

BINGA: The need for youth friendly corners in Mutoko and Binga has been amplified with youths saying absence of these has led to stigma everytime they seek family planning methods from public spaces.

PSA implementing partners, Basilizwe and DEMT have also in their project reports noted that uptake of family planning methods amongst the youth has increased though dedicated access has remained a challenge.

“Our main objective had been to encourage young girls and youths to use and access contraceptives, a goal we have to a larger extent achieved. Our major challenge at the moment besides parents who still see it odd to give access to a school going girl access to family planning methods is availability of youth friendly corners,” said Basilizwe programs officer, Danisa Mudimba.

Disaster and Environmental Management Trust (DEMT) programs manager, Romeo Chingezi also outlined what these facilities are and why they are important.

“A Youth Friendly Centre (YFC) model is a high-impact practice that enhances Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) outcomes such as improved access to contraception, reduced teenage pregnancies, increased STI testing and treatment, HIV treatment and care services, better menstrual health management, enhanced knowledge and skills, reduced gender-based violence, improved mental health, well-being and increased participation in SRH decision-making.

“The establishment of more friendly youth centres has emerged as a crucial component of young people’s health and wellbeing which will provide a safe and comfortable space for young people to discuss their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns, including STIs,” Chingezi said.

Youths also added their voices to the need of such facilities.

“The establishment of Youth Friendly Corners (YFCs) is the best thing that has happened for us young people, especially in rural areas where most nurses are elderly and may not fully understand our needs and concerns.

“This makes us feel uncomfortable expressing our health challenges or what’s happening in our bodies, but if I find someone of my age, I can easily share my problem. For example, if someone has a sexually transmitted infection, we can relate and communicate openly,” said Marvelous Chimana of Mutoko.

While the only Youth Friendly Corner in Binga was blown by wind and never repaired, Mutoko has only one facility in Chitekwe which besides being far only provides for Sexual and reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) education.

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