ZNFPC trains healthcare workers in tertiary institutions on CSE under the UNESCO funded O3plus project
ZNFPC trained over 40 healthcare workers in twelve selected tertiary institutions in Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) supported by UNESCO under the O3plus project (Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future Plus). The training targeted health care workers at tertiary institutions to offer youth-friendly health service provision to adolescents and young people in tertiary institutions. The O3Plus five year Project is being funded by UNESCO focusing on twelve selected tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe.
By Donald Dube (ZNFPC Marketing and Communications)
The O3Plus Project stands for, ‘Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future Plus’ addressing the needs of young people in tertiary institutions. there are twelve selected tertiary institutions implementing the project. There are six Universities and six tertiary institutions namely. The Universities are; University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), Manicaland State University of Applied Science (MSUAS), Harare Institute of Technology (HIT), Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and National University of Science and Technology (NUST). The colleges are; Danhiko, Mupfure, Westgate, Masvingo Polytechnic, Muatre Polytechnic and Harare Polytechnic.
The Project aims to reach out to students in these selected tertiary institutions, to undertake HIV Testing Services to students, train healthcare providers and Peer Educators at tertiary institutions and link the students with appropriate Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services. The Project is pinned on four pillars;
– Institutional strengthening for sustainability
– Student health and well-being
– Safe and inclusive campus environment
– Evidence building and Knowledge sharing
It is essential to focus on students from tertiary institutions as they are a heterogeneous group with different needs and wants. This group often lack adequate and accurate sexual reproductive health and rights information. This Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programme aims to increase knowledge and utilization of integrated HIV prevention, SRHR and Sexual Gendr Based Violence (SGBV) services. One of the interventions for young people in tertiary institutions is teaching them about sexuality, reproductive health, gender, rights, services and related life skills
The training aims to empower health care workers and peer educators to engage young people by providing them with correct information, challenging them to look at their own attitudes and behaviors, helping them to develop the skills they need to adopt health behaviors and to remain safe. While it is recognized that changing an individual’s behavior remains the responsibility of that individual, creating an enabling environment that supports and encourages positive behavior change requires effort and commitment from a multitude of players.