OCTOBER 2018 “STORIES OF ADVOCACY” ON ADVANCING THE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN GWAGWALADA, FCT, NIGERIA
BY
CONCERN WOMEN
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (CWIDI)
Introduction.
Through
support from Women deliver CWIDI continue to promote the sexual health and
reproductive health and rights of young people in Gwagwalada Abuja. Among its
outcomes activities, was the use of social media, through audiovisual channels
to engaged young people including stakeholders at FMOH on SRHR using the
hashtag (#YouthSexReprodHealth) disseminate information on SRHR and to track
efforts on social media (including on twitter using the @abujaupdate that
covers the project site – Federal Capital Territory). Also, a blog platform
(Medium) was opened and used to disseminate information.
In October 2018, CWIDI
continued to utilize various social media (Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp) and
blogging (Medium) platforms to share sexual reproductive health information and
key messages, engage, stimulate conversation, and respond to health needs of
members on WhatsApp, and commemorate special days like the day of the girl on
11th October 2018. An example of impacting new reproductive health
knowledge can be seen in the exclamation of a young female member of the
WhatsApp group who said, “Wawu...my first hearing about menstrual cup” (see
photo). Another example of meeting the sexual need can be seen in the response
by the influencer to a male member who wanted more information on a
sex-enhancing herbal supplement (see photo). Finally, the photo below shows
that through our posts on twitter, people around the world are aware and like
the efforts of CWIDI in promoting sexual reproductive health. There are much
more of similar unmeasured impacts.
1.
Activities and Progress
1.1.
Social media activities
In the
month of October, there was increase of
members on the WhatsApp group from 66 to
200 there was 23 posts on the Facebook group (CWIDI – Youth Sexual
& Reproductive Health Nigeria), and conversations on sexual reproductive health
information such as menstruation, ovulation , different kinds of Vigna
discharge and its meaning , effects of gender based violence, different types
of gender-based violence and its effect
including physical, psychological and sexual abuse different modern
contraceptives, symptoms and causes of sexual transmitted diseases, explanation
of internal and external female
reproductive organs, life skills , correct and consistent use of condom on the WhatsApp group
(named CWIDI-YouthSexReprodHealt),
and 229 tweets that used the unique #YouthSexReprodHealth campaign hashtag.
These are itemized in table 1 below.
|
Social Media Platform
|
Change in no. of members / contributors
|
No. of posts
|
|
WhatsApp
|
220
|
274
|
|
Facebook
|
11
|
91
|
Table 1: Summary of #YouthSexReprodHealth
activities on Facebook, WhatsApp
The impact on
twitter can be seen in the random one-week analysis (a full 3-month analysis
cannot be obtained without subscription)which is used to approximate the
accounts reached
Table
2: Random one-week analysis of impact of the #YouthSexReprodHealth on twitter
in October (Tweatreach.com).
|
Twitter
Analytics
|
18 – 26 Oct
|
|
|
Contributors
|
3
|
|
|
Accounts reached
|
5134
|
|
|
Impressions
|
47,435
|
|
|
Number of tweets
|
229
|
|
1.2.
Blog postings
In
October, Through
these mediums SRHR issues such as HIV prevention, STI, condom, family planning
services, mensuration and hygiene, ovulation, puberty, vaginal discharge, how
to use condom, important of correct and consistence use of condom, STI
symptoms, centres with treatment in a low cost, negotiation skills, abortion,
relationship, sexual rights and sexual citizenship, Gender equality, GBV,
sexuality education etc were discussed. Below are the titles of the blog
postings hyperlinked to the website for access
·
WOMEN RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
(3): SOCIAL NORMS AND PRACTICES
·
Relevance of Sexuality Education
to Advancing the Sexual and Reproductive Health on Young People
·
Access to contraception and
Adolescents’ Well-being
·
ERADICATING FEMALE GENITAL
MUTILATION IN NIGERIA
1.3.
Commemoration of 2018 Day of Girl
On the
11th of October, CWIDI commemorated the 2018 day of the girl Child by
sharing poems and write-up by young girls. This was shared on social media and
was liked and viewed by twitter users in Nigeria, other African countries and
the United States of America (See photo in the introduction page.
2.2 Outreaches
Furthermore, CWIDI in
collaboration with Peach Aid Medical Initiative and Demetrius for the poor
foundation held a one-day outreach in Paso Gwani and
Momo Sabo communities community on 13th & 27th October
2018. During this outreach, a total number
of 240-persons (160 women) (80 men)
between the ages of 13-30 years was reached with infographic materials containing information on menstruation, body hygiene,
Family planning services, management of sexual
violence STI information, HIV
counselling & testing, Gender, Gender base violence, life skills, correct
and consistent use of condom and negotiation skills. During the education
on menstruation and hygiene emphasis was placed on knowing your body and being
comfortable with it, that all physical and emotional changes during puberty are
natural and different girls start menstruating at different time and it is
normal. More still, girls /women were educated on ovulation and virginal
discharge, signs and symptoms of pregnancy. A total number of 40 women opted out for FP
services in the Paso Gwani and Momo Sabo communities while
30 pregnant received birth kits, prenatal-postnatal vitamin -mineral supplement
by vitamin angels as well as breastfeeding mothers.
In addition, through
partnership and support from the CEO One Stop Demand
New Zeland (Dennies) 300 reusable menstrual cups was distributed to women
and they all received education on how to use it as well as menstrual hygiene.
During the session the following questions was asked
“Can this menstrual cup disvirgin
me ( Hawa Ibrabim 18yrs of age)”
The women was
taken on condom demonstration and encourage them to use condom correct and
consistently elaborating the positive effect of condom e.g prevention of unwanted pregnancy and
STIs. On the other hand, a total number
of 80 men (14-30 years) was reached with information on Family planning
benefits, forms of Gender based violence, domestic violence, Patriarchy
including its effect as well as HIV counselling and testing. During the education on different forms of
domestic violence like Forms of Spousal Violence, majority of the men claimed
not know that Physically forcing their wife to have sexual intercourse with
them even when they did not want is a form of violence. Also, some of the
effect of domestic violence to children witnessing it may result to mental
damaging, stress-related problems, loss of self-confidence, being afraid/angry,
and blame themselves for what is happening or feeling of guilty. Also, they
were taken on effects of child marriage, rape and sexual violence. At the end
of the meeting through support of the chief of Paso Gwani and Momo Sabo about 7 men from Paso Gwani and 8 from
Momo Sabo communities pledged to advocate
against Gender based violence by functioning as Community Watch dog on any form
of violence against women. Also, men were also educated on condom
demonstration, with emphasis on correct and consistent use of condom. A total
number of 30 men opted out for HIV test of which 2 were positive and was
refereed to ART centre at Gwagwalada. Through collaboration with Demetrius
foundation we were able to receive HBV, HCV test kids and drug abuse. About 20
men tested positive of HBV and they were referred to the hospital for further
test and treatment.
Furthermore, CWIDI
volunteers made 8 visits to hotels, bars, hot joints and football
joints. The developed SRHR IEC materials was used to provide information on
various SRHR issues mentioned. A total number of 20 women between the ages of
24 to 30, and one unmarried women (16rs) of age received family planning
services. 45 people (25 women and 20 men) between the age 14-30yrs of age
received various IEC materials with SRHR messages. While 12 men and 18 women
underwent HIV test.
Finally, our
biggest win in the month under review was CWIDI ability to set up Men Watch dog
committee in Paso
Gwani and Momo Sabo communities and our partnership with One Stop Demand New Zeland
which resulted in distribution of reusable menstrual cups, soaps and pots for
sterilizing the menstrual cups thereby helping women to enjoy their full
potentials and keeping environment clean. This is because these cups can be use
for 5 years. CWIDI was able to
reach 240 persons with SRHR information and some of the feedback from the
women. are
“I use rag during my period and
one day as I was going to Farm, Mr Adamu approached me that my cloth was stain.
I was so ashamed of myself, I felt so bad, I felt like the ground should
swallow me. Since them I vowed not to go out during my period. But now with
menstrual cups I can move around. I feel so happy, thank you Oyibo from
Newzeland.” Halima Musa.
Also, through partnership in
our advocacy effort against gender based violence the Chief of Paso Gwani
community reviewed the idea of women not coming out during the Adawiya festival. During the past few years of Adawiya festival, women are not allowing
to go out, sometimes because most woman who are due for delivery can’t go to
the hospital they use the traditional birth attendance and some women use
herbalist and in some occasion majority of them lose their life. However, through our several consultation
meetings with the traditional rulers of Paso Gwani community, the chief and
members of his cabinet has resolved to abolish the sanction which will allow
women move around during the next festival which will take place in February
2019.
Challenges
1. Most parents and guidance of
the girls insisted to be on the WhatsApp platform because according to them
they what to know the kind of messages and information given to their children.
This was a big challenge because one of the purpose of establishing the
WhatsApp platform was for young people to have a safe environment where they
can discuss issues of sexuality freely. However, knowing that their parents are
reading their messages will not allow frank and open discussion. To resolve
this, after several meetings, we resolved in creating another WhatsApp group
for parents.
2. The WhatsApp platform is open
for both boys and girls so when discussing issues on menstrual period,
ovulation and virgin discharged majority of the boys expressed their
dissatisfaction because they felt that it is strictly women issues. These
brought a lot of controversy in the group, however, to ensure stability CWIDI
had a two days education on how the knowledge of menstruation, ovulation can
help to maintain a healthy relationship. Below is some of the post from the
boys
3. “Going forward I will support my girlfriend during her period help her
calculate her menstrual cycle and identify her safe days, so we can have wide sex”
and I will not get her pregnant Nanemka
Lawrence.
4. The protest by Shia muslims at
the federal capital disrupted our outreaches thereby to resolve this CWIDI
meets with members of the community especially the chief and his cabinet for
scheduling for another possible date
5. Gender
issues: Male involvement in some aspects of gender
issues such as menstruation has been
slow. For instance, Fathers can’t buy their girls sanitary towels
because they believe it’s the mothers who should buy for their girls’ sanitary
towels or use of rags. The fathers also believe that it is a mother’s role to
talk to the young adolescents on sexuality issues. This has limited the male
parent from involvements when addressing SRHR issues at community level. To
solve this challenge CWIDI will continue her outreaches, and education through
the WhatsApp group ensure more engagement with men on some of these SRHR issues
using life experience sharing by some parents.
6. Sudden suspension of our medium
account which we used in posting blogs and other stories of advocacy, to solve
this problem CWIDI started using Gmail blogger and must repost all the blogs
through the Gmail bloggers and start creating new links which was shared via
twitter
 |
| women line up to receive FP services |
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