Access to educational, sexual and reproductive health support services through football

Context

Zambia has a very young population about half of whom are under 15. Being a traditional patriarchy, youngsters’ sexual health, notably the girls’, is often considered taboo here, often resulting in health complications with youngsters. Therefore, only 42 % of the young women and 47 % of the young men have a deep understanding of HIV/AIDS as defined by the UNO. In Lusaka where the rate of HIV prevalence is 15 %, teenagers (15-19 year olds) and young women (20-24 year olds) are the most exposed. There is also a need for family planning among sexually active girls and women that still goes unsatisfied.

Additionally, COVID-19 has, by impacting the supply chain of SRH products and services, made this already dangerous situation worse for Lusaka youngsters, widening existent inequalities and often exposing vulnerable youths to violence and exploitation.

Objectives

• Providing universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, including for family planning, information, education, and the integration of reproductive health in the national strategies and programmes
• Supplying Lusaka youths with SRH information and services tailored to their age, giving them thereby the chance to control their sexual and reproductive health
• Ensuring women’s full and effective participation and providing them with equal opportunities for leadership at all decision-making levels in politics, the economy and public life

Activities

• Educators’ individual training and monitoring in AAK methods
• Implementing the programme using sessions on sexual and reproductive education every week in their communities
• Organising three health sports festivals at which youngsters may celebrate the sport and have access to medical services in 2021
• Awareness campaign on the risks and dangers associated with vulnerable girls’ early marriages
• Reinforcing teenagers and young women’s knowledge on HIV/AIDS and STI preventive measures
• Organising screening days

Impacts

• 20 educators trained to provide health education sessions on sport in 2021
• 1,000 youths with an appropriate education in SRH thanks to football sessions in 2021
• Over 450 people screened free of charge for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmissible Infections in 2021

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