DECEMBER 2018 “STORIES OF ADVOCACY” ON ADVANCING THE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN GWAGWALADA, FCT, NIGERIA

 CWIDI engages the Monitoring & Evaluation unit of the Federal Ministry of Health on M&E adolescent & youth-friendly health in Nigeria. Nigeria is revising its policy with an M&E section included
  WE FM 95.1 .Radio talk discussion on Family planning, effect of gender base violence, how to seek redress whenever they experience any type of violence and calling on parents for early discussion of issues on sexuality,


WATCH DOG committee on GBV at Pakio community of Gwagwalada FCT expressing ownership introducing more strategies to ensure that women are excluded from any form of violence
With Support from Women Deliver, CWIDI and her partners have continued to promote the sexual, reproductive health and rights of young people in Gwagwalada FCT Abuja through social media platform such as WhatsApp, twitter, blogging and visits to hot spots like football view centers, restaurants, clubs etc.  In the month under review; CWIDI trained volunteers reached a total number of 35 young people (15 boys, 20 girls) with information on HIV/AIDS, ST1s, Gender based violence, correct and consistent use of condom, negotiation skills, FP information.  A total number of 12 married women between 23-27 years of age received Family planning services, while (4) unmarried girls between 18-23 years received FP services. CWIDI health workers explained clearly to the single girls that the FP service administered cannot prevent them from contracting sexual transmitted infection, rather it can only safe them from unplanned pregnancy, therefore urged them to ensure they use condom correctly and consistently during having sexual intercourse. Also, through twitter and blogging CWIDI have continued to share information on various aspect of Sexual reproductive health to wider audience(see links of blogs) https://srhradvocacycwidi.blogspot.com/2018/12/sexual-reproductive-health-needs-of.html
https://srhradvocacycwidi.blogspot.com/2018/12/revisiting-worlds-childrens-day-2018.html
Through our WhatsApp Platform we recorded more members as young people continued to request for their family and friends to be added on the platform thereby increasing  membership from 250-268  who actively engaged on SRHR discussions. 
In addition to this,  @ WE 95.1FM, CWIDI held a radio Talk Show discussion on SRHR, during this programme citizens received information on Family planning, effect of gender-based violence, how to seek redress whenever they experience any type of violence. The radio programme offered an opportunity for parents to freely engage their young ones in discussing issues on sexual intercourse, menstruation /hygiene, relationships with their children and start early to educate children on sexuality issues including effects of gender-based violence. This is important because family is the first identity of a child and it is where socialization begins.  More still, one of our win win in the month under review was ability to attend the monthly meeting of WATCH DOG committee on GBV at Pakio , Pako, Paso Gwani and Momo Sabo communities and see to it that the community members has taken ownership and introducing more strategies  to ensure that women are excluded from any form of violence.  For example, inviting Midwives to give a talk on importance of family planning was very strategic in the sense that getting more men to believe in Family planning would go a long way in increasing the uptake of family planning. Also, in PAKO community through support from the molesm and religious leaders, 20 women was trained on vocational skills such as soap making, beads, hair tying etc. thereby empowering them financially. The monthly meeting was an opportunity for CWIDI to discussed parameters that would be used to assess knowledge on SRHR information and services. Being that majority of the participants are not fluent in English, Focus Group discussion and key interview was agreed as a method that will be used to assess level of knowledge on SRHR issues. To this end FGD guide was jointly developed for the purpose, and 5th January 2019 was fixed for the FGD while key informant interview for Pakio , Pako community while 12th January  was slated for Paso Gwani and Momo Sabo communities .

Furthermore, CWIDI with support from University of Western Cape held a chat on pre-evaluation with members on WhatsApp platform to seek input in the development of tools that will be used in assessing level of knowledge on some of the SRHR issues discussed on the platforms such as menstruation /hygiene, condom use, life skills, ovulation, STI, HIV, FP information, GBV and Gender equality. Below are some of the questions developed with members.  The evaluation chat was agreed upon to hold on 18th January 2019 and all members are encouraged to participate. Below are some of the agreed questions;
Which of the following is true about menstruation?
Why do you think it is necessary to have contraceptive knowledge?
Who should be responsible for contraception?
Which methods can used for emergency contraception?

Finally, In line with the ongoing support provided to Federal ministry of health to revise its policy on adolescent and youth friendly services in Nigeria , CWIDI engaged the Monitoring & Evaluation unit of the Federal Ministry of Health to discuss how to  incorporate more youth led CSOs on SRHR ,and M&E working groups to ensure that the committee cut across six geopolitical zones in Nigeria for proper tracking of the policy implementation.  In addition, CWIDI is also providing technical support in reviewing draft policy document to ensure that all stakeholders input was captured.   

Challenges
Due to the bureaucracy in government process, including the delay in passage of 2019 National budget , and  with the upcoming  2019 general elections campaign gathering momentum in the country , there is delay  in  getting  final approval for the policy draft .Again the draft policy document is still under review. 

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