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
              https://t.co/cxraOvmjUW
·         Access to contraception and Adolescents’ Well-being
                 https://t.co/AgZFwDV4sw
·         ERADICATING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION IN NIGERIA
                       https://t.co/akL3PGQMvX

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


Field pictures
                                           Aisha 18 yrs old advocating for menstrual hygiene

                                            Amiun showcasing some of our IEC materials on menstruation 
                                         Bridget educating young girls on reproductive organs 
                                                   Bridget with CEO of One Stop Demand New Zealand 
                                             Bridget with GBV WATCH DOG committee members 
                                              Bridget educating young girls on Condom use , negotiation skills and 
                                                   Educating women on the use of reusable menstrual cups 
                                                       Commodities 
                                              Nurse Maria conducting HIV test. STI test

                                             Women expressing joy on the receive of menstrual cups 
women line up to receive FP services 

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