Jacklyn Abongowath
30 July 2007
opinion
Kampala — Sexual and reproductive health among young people is a major concern in Uganda where many of them fall victim of circumstances because some parents fear talking about sex and relationships.
Even at universities the young people still have little knowledge about their sexuality, which has resulted into unwanted pregnancies, leading to abortions and death.
However, PSI (Population Services International) has taken the responsibility of talking to young people about HIV much as there is still a big challenge of reaching out to those who are out of school.
PSI has worked tirelessly to empower young people, especially the girls who are so vulnerable to HIV/Aids.
Girls are more venerable for a number of reasons, both social and biological. The PSI has taken measures to tackle the social drivers of the epidemic in women and young girls.
In sub-Saharan Africa, statistics show that among the youth (from 15 to 24 years), HIV prevalence in girls is significantly higher than in boys of the same age group.
The aim of PSI is to promote safer sexual relationships and discourage cross-generational sex for young girls, which has been a wonderful initiative for the youth in Uganda.
The programme has provided the girls with opportunities for volunteering that have exposed them to many forms of learning, especially on social etiquette with people of different background hence increasing their self-esteem.
Their target audience are girls, especially those in first year at the university because most of them get excited when they reach university and tend to take the freedom for granted at the expense of their academics, which has generated a lot of problems like staying longer at the university because of constant retakes and getting infections.
PSI has created youth-friendly services to serve the youth through partnership with other stakeholders. They are promoting behavioural change like Abstinence, Being faithful and Condom use (ABC). PSI also offers free sex education for the young people.
This is important because the young people are made aware of issues concerning their sexual reproductive health.
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