adminCatherine Murombedzi
SOCIAL media has been abused in some instances where one creates a damaging story and goes to publish, pronto.
News is abuzz on social networks of unfounded rumours. Accidents of school buses have been ‘created’ leaving parents praying for their children’s safety.
Smear campaigns have been the order of the day for those on the political arena and one wonders when this will end or punitive measures be taken to put a stop on it.
Some people use fictitious names, some are abroad and some are stupid to slander some people.
That is a story for another day. For now, let us go all the way to Masvingo, Bota Clinic where social media is making a positive impact and bringing the much-needed change in the seven pilot districts of Masvingo.
Bota Clinic under the Safeguard Young People’s (SYP) programme is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation running under the Integrated Support Programme young lives have been transformed for better.
SYP operates in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi and Namibia.
The goal of SYP is to improve the sexual reproductive health status of young people aged 10 to 24 by the end of 2019.
“SYP emphasises on transforming the gender dynamics that marginalize and harm young women,” said Mr Jephiter Tsamwi of SAYWHAT who works with Bota youths.
Mr Tsamwi said innovation and commitment was needed to address issues affecting young people.
“In Zimbabwe, we needed innovation, commitment and compassion to address issues young people face. We use social media such as Facebook as a tool for increasing young people’s competency in sexual reproductive health,” he said.
Peer educators for Masvingo were trained and these being young now work at selected clinics like Bota.
“During club meetings peer educators use their tablets to access the Young People’s Network-Get Engaged Facebook Page that provides the club with discussion and debate topics. It is interactive and they too can post and ask questions,” said Mr Tsamwi. When the network started in 2014 it registered 5 600 users, but by 2015 it had 8 000 users.
“Using Facebook analytically, health data given at finger tips the six pilot districts have seen a decline in violence, uptake of health services and more youths now access health services without fear,” said Mr Benjamin Chikuni, a member of Bota Clinic’s adolescent sexual reproductive health committee.
“We have many problems in our community, sexual abuse, emotional abuse of youths by their own parents and relatives but since the launch of the ISP and SYP programmes with our trained peer educators working in the wards sexual abuse has decreased by about 15 percent. We are making progress and new HIV infections are very low,” said Mr Chikuni.
Indeed the clinic reports that since the inception of Facebook clubs there has been a drastic increase in the number of young people coming for HIV testing, a decrease in new sexually transmitted infections and a marked decrease in teenage pregnancies.
Mr Chikuni said they had youth friendly corners at the clinics and he operates from Bota Clinic.
“We help youths understand the negative impact that getting married too early will have on their future. Unwanted pregnancies and the dangers of back yard abortions are discussed. We talk of sexually transmitted infections HIV included. We talk of missed opportunities if one does not make a wise choice so the youths are coming in large numbers. We have at least 20 youths who visit the youth friendly corners daily,” said Mr Chikuni.
The youth friendly corner is not restricted to health issues only the young people can use the safe space to help each other with their studies and social issues too. It is easier for a young person to relate a challenge to a person of their age as opposed to parents and older people.
The youth have always pointed out this demand even at workshops.
The challenges facing the youths are national and hence partners coming to work in communities are commended.
Child marriage in Zimbabwe stands at 31 percent and this has to go down if the youths are empowered.
Bota youths show that it is possible to make developmental progress and more programmes like the one undertaken by SYP and have to reach other uncovered areas.
As SYP scales up successful sexual reproductive health interventions around policy issues, knowledge, services, empowerment and evidence based research more youths are set to benefit.
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