Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
MORE than 800 adolescent girls and young women from Insiza District have benefited from the National Aids Council (Nac)-led Sista2Sista programme, which seeks to reduce HIV prevalence among vulnerable girls and young women.
The project targets vulnerable girls and young women aged between 10 and 24, equipping them with knowledge about their sexual and reproductive rights.
Girls and young women aged between 15 and 24 are considered a high-risk group for HIV infection.
The Sista2Sista programme also examines factors contributing to new HIV infections while grouping participants into clubs where they are taught self-awareness, sexual and reproductive health, financial literacy and family-related issues.
Insiza District Aids Coordinator Mr Mpilo Baloyi said the district had 16 trained mentors, with each mentor working with about 50 mentees.
He said the programme, which started in June last year, was expected to end in December and was being implemented in 14 wards across the district.
Mr Baloyi said Nac was implementing the programme in partnership with Insiza Godlwayo Aids Council (IGAC).
“This is an intervention focusing on adolescent girls and young women, in particular those aged between 15 and 24. We have mentors that have been trained within our communities who then conduct risk assessments in order to identify youths that are at risk and then they are enrolled within the programme.
“This is a year-long programme where girls are taken through sessions by the mentor. Topics include HIV prevention, STIs, economic empowerment, among others. Girls get comprehensive information on HIV prevention strategies like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and, if at risk, they get initiated on PrEP. There is a manual which the mentors use when conducting the sessions,” he said.
Mr Baloyi said participants also received sanitary wear under the programme.
The Sista2Sista programme seeks to enhance the self-efficacy of young women to access and utilise integrated HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services.
The programme also seeks to empower young women to make responsible reproductive health decisions, including delaying sexual activity, standing up against child marriages, reducing teenage pregnancies and reporting sexual abuse.
@DubeMatutu
