Sexual &amp; Reproductive Health Program

Description

While the Youth and Adolescents dominate the total number of Rwandan populations, they still face a lot of challenges and on the top being Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) related and continue to experience poor reproductive health outcomes. Youth opt not to seek for SRHR services due to a variety of factors, including lack of awareness about availability of services, misconceptions about some services, affordability, fear of judgment by their peers, families, communities and health workers, stigma or embarrassment, among others. This results in early and unwanted pregnancies which lead to drop out of school, malnutrition in children, sexually transmitted diseases, gender-based violence and low economic development of our country.

Youth and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health trainings at Remera Health Center’s Youth Corner /Gasabo District

Condom Awareness Week Campaign (#CondomWeek2021), a pre-international condom day campaign

Condom Awareness Week (#CondomWeek2021) Campaign is a yearly weekly campaign (from February 8th – 12th) inaugurated in this year of 2021 that is conducted before the official celebration of International Condom Day (ICD), on every February 13th. The whole world is substantially committed towards prevention of pregnancies and STIs mainly HIV/AIDS and Community Health Boosters has been having a light eye on this agenda more so in youth and adolescent perspectives.
International Condom Day is celebrated on February 13th – a day before Valentine’s Day, as a way of reminding ourselves of condoms and how effective they are in preventing unwanted pregnancies and STIs, including HIV. This year’s theme was “Safer Is Fun” and since its inception in 2009, the day is commemorated as an effort to reduce and stop new HIV infections through safe sex practices. Through organizing community engagement activities, raising awareness and breaking the misconceptions/myths around the condom use, and distributing and availing the condoms to the vulnerable communities, the Condom Week was established to normalize the use of condoms in the community towards reducing teenage/unwanted pregnancies (and ban the related pregnancy complications and unsafe abortions, street kids, school dropouts, etc.) and STIs including new HIV/AIDS Infections by promoting the practice of Safe Sex using condoms.

As a response to the predicament challenge of new HIV/AIDS and Other STIs, and Unwanted Teenage Pregnancies among Rwandan Youth and Adolescents which might have been being aggravated by Covid-19 pandemic, Community Health Boosters (CHB) through its yearly Condom Awareness Week Campaign, has organized and implemented a Virtual awareness raising campaign aimed at promoting the use of condoms through awareness raising, behavior change and distribution of condoms as means of preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS. In partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), USAID-INGOBYI Activity, and Society for Family Health (SFH) was able to reach more than 435,687 people on social medias with the big count of youth and adolescents. Again, CHB in partnership with SFH-Rwanda, was able to distribute a total of 27, 000 male condoms in University Campuses and Youth-friendly Centers.
Due to Covid-19 restrictive measures, at its inauguration and very first celebration Condom Week 2021 was conducted Virtually through social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Press Medias and News Papers under the theme “Use Condom, Be Safe”.
WAYFORWARD AND CALL FOR ACTIONS:
CHB basing on the recommendations from beneficiaries and its existing commitments towards prevention of unwanted/teenage pregnancies and new HIV/AIDS Infections is proposing the below Action road map and recommendations:
ACTIVITIES:
★ Increasing the number of our beneficiaries by extending the areas of reach (Extension and Continuous distribution of condoms in all Universities in Rwanda and Youth-friendly Centers).
★ Conduction of many awareness raising campaigns to break myths, stigma, misconceptions and cultural barriers around the condom to normalize its use in the community.
★ Recording and Producing a Demonstration Video on proper and effective use of the condoms
RECOMMENDATIONS:
CHB is calling for multi-stakeholders’ partnership including MoH, RBC, Local and International CSOs, Private and Public Entities working on ASRH/FP and prevention of HIV/AIDS to contribute at their ability in the below parts;
● Donation of Condoms
● Financial Support for the Campaign activities and related materials including banners, flyers, and Edutainment Animated Video, etc.
● Covering the Fees for TV Shows and Radio Talks

RELATED ARTICLES:
https://igihe.com/amakuru/u-rwanda/article/urubyiruko-rwo-mu-mashuri-makuru-na-kaminuza-rwahawe-udukingirizo-ibihumbi-27
https://inyarwanda.com/inkuru/103089/musanzemu-gihe-hizihizwa-umunsi-wa-saint-valentin-urubyiruko-rwahuguwe-ku-ikoreshwa-ryagak-103089.html
https://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/varsity-students-body-campaign-dismantle-stigma-around-condom-use
https://www.thecampus.rw/post/view/does-youth-know-that-use-of-condom-is-safer-and-fun-than-acquiring-stds-and-unwanted-pregnancies
https://inyarwanda.com/inkuru/103075/umuryango-community-health-boosters-wasoje-icyumweru-cyahariwe-ubukangurambaga-ku-ikoreshw-103075.html

Youth engagement in Contraceptive Use to end early/unwanted pregnancies

CAW is a yearly weekly campaign (from Sept 20th-25th) conducted before the celebration of World Contraception Day on Sept 26th. It was originated by Community Health Boosters, in 2020 and established to mobilize youth networks to join forces towards achieving the world where every pregnancy is wanted through improving awareness of contraception and to enable young people to make informed choices on their sexual and reproductive health. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals, youth institutions and organizations in Rwanda to call for the prevention and elimination of unwanted pregnancies and other distinguished FP/ASRH distinguished challenges.
During 2020 due to Covid-19 prevention restrictive measures, CAW’s inauguration and its very first celebration was conducted through massive social media campaign by a joint force of youth lead NGOs namely Community Health Boosters (CHB), International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP) and Medical Students Association of Rwanda (MEDSAR) and other distinguished partners under the theme “advancing early youth engagement in contraceptive use amidst covid-19 pandemic”. The Campaign was conducted via distinguished social Medias including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp and other individual platforms.
“Chile and Ethiopia have shown what can be achieved through strong leadership, good science, adequate investment and effective management. In Chile, Contraceptive use at first intercourse among adolescents rose by 30% between 2007 and 2018. In Ethiopia, contraceptive use by married adolescents aged 15-19 years increased by 29% from 2000 to 2016. On this World Contraception Day, let us commit to learning from the lessons from other countries to strengthen access to and uptake of contraception by adolescents in each of our countries”. Said Dr Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli (Scientist, ASRH & Research Department, WHO Geneva).

“On this World Contraception Day, it is our responsibility to support communities to know more about the benefits of using contraceptives. There is no better time to raise awareness on contraception and safe sex, increase demand for and access to family planning services, and empower young people to make informed decisions as to strive for a world where every pregnancy in wanted”. Said Mark Bryan Schreiner, UNFPA Rwanda Representative.
The campaign was open for everyone to participate by sharing his/her contraceptive use related message in attractive and eye-catching posters addressed to the youth on social media platforms and impacted more than 231,795 people excluding these reached via individual social media accounts especially youth through different social media platforms. All these achievements are thanks to contribution of distinguished partnering individuals, CSOs, youth NGOs, Volunteers, Clubs and Associations, and other influential people to the youth as well as role models.

THE “SIDA NTAHO YAGIYE (HIV/AIDS IS NOT OVER)” SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

By the end of 2021, about 38.4 million people were living with HIV and 2/3 of them were in Africa (WHO, 2022). According to the UNAIDS estimates, 227,356 people were living with HIV in Rwanda by the end of December 2021. Though the HIV prevalence among the general population in Rwanda has stabilized and maintained at 3% among the aged 15-64 over the past 15 years, the high prevalence of new HIV infections among young people and adolescents (aged 15-24) is very alarming.
Research has shown that the use of condoms as means of HIV prevention among sexually active youths have been declining over the past years due to various factors. This is a threat to not only their lives but to their sex partners and their cycles. For instance, the Rwanda Demographic Health Survey (RDHS 2019-2020) reported that 5% of women aged 15-19 have begun childbearing. The figures represent the teenagers who can acquire or transmit HIV/AIDS and other STIs. “Where there is pregnancy, so can be HIV/AIDS or other STIs”.
In addition, RDHS reported that 59% of young women and 57% of young men aged 15-24 have comprehensive knowledge of HIV. While the lack of information about HIV prevention and treatment is thought to be a key contributing factor to the rise of new HIV infections among young people and adolescents, addressing this issue can contribute immensely to achieving zero new HIV infections.

Against this background, UNESCO in partnership with COMMUNITY HEALTH BOOSTERS successfully planned and conducted the one-month “SIDA Ntaho Yagiye (HIV/AIDS Is Not Over) Social media campaign to raise awareness of HIV prevention, reduce HIV stigma, and promote HIV testing, prevention, and treatment among young people and adolescents. The campaign also reminded young people that they have to keep fighting against HIV/AIDS. While Young people and adolescents being the highly affected by this issue and are more on social medias, to reach more of them, this campaign was conducted massively through distinguished social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.).
The campaign was conducted within a period of one month (From 15 May to 15 June, 2023) and throughout this whole period, the daily message posters were shared widely and massively on distinguished social medias. Briefly, the campaign goal was to reach 300,000 people on social media with distinguished messages on HIV Prevention, Treatment, Testing and Stigma but the reach gone beyond expectations and directly reached a total of 430,694 people on Twitter, and 86,780 on Instagram , making the campaign goal to be achieved at 172.5 % without those reached indirectly through other social medias and participation of distinguished individuals.

Improving comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) by using YAhealth Games and Strengthening School health clubs, the safe spaces to discuss and tackle the issues of teenage pregnancy, HIV, and SGBV

Like elsewhere globally, in Rwanda, the conversations around SRHR mostly remains in “SILENCE”, as adults, especially parents/guardians and teachers, consider it unacceptable to discuss it with children/students while is a vital aspect of growth and development throughout our lives. Therefore, adults and young people rely on partial and often inaccurate knowledge about SRHR from the media and their peers, limiting their service-seeking behaviors. Consequently, this contributes to the increase in the rate of unwanted/teenage pregnancies, HIV & other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and Sex and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) among adolescent and young people.
While access to reliable and accurate information on SRHR, and HIV and SGBV prevention is one of the solutions to this issue, adolescents in schools still have difficulties in accessing such information since most of the school health clubs are dormant or less active. Schools’ health clubs are voluntary clubs formed and managed by pupils and teachers to promote good health practices and behavioral change in schools and surrounding communities with a high focus on alerting issues especially teenage pregnancies, and STIs including HIV, and SGBV.
More than 9 out of 10 adolescents in Rwanda go to school whereby all schools have time for school club sessions per week. This makes school clubs a good platform to deliver comprehensive sexuality education to most of the adolescents. Adolescents are more receptive to new ideas and practices and therefore provide a suitable opportunity to introduce knowledge and habits at an early stage. Having adopted good health practices from a young age, they are likely to continue so as adults, enabling the reduction of unwanted pregnancies, STIs including HIV, Substance and drug abuse, and SGBV.

It is in that background UNESCO through the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (03) Program partnered with Community Health Boosters, a youth-led organization to promote comprehensive sexuality education and strengthen the school health clubs, the safe space to discuss and tackle the issues of teenage pregnancy, HIV, and SGBV by using the fun learning tools named YAhealth Games. Under this partnership, 45 schools of BUGESERA, GATSIBO and NYAGATARE Districts, one of the topmost districts with high teenage pregnancies and new HIV infections, were reached and each school was given 5 YAhealth games making a total of 225 games. In addition, the general students of these schools were given the sessions on SRHR, and HIV and SGBV prevention, and a total of 42,811 was reached and 2,250 were trained on YAhealth Game.

Boys and Girls pledge to fully engage in Menstrual Hygiene Management

Periods are a fact of life. It is not something we can change. Yet, there is a stigma attached to periods. On any given day, more than 300 million people are menstruating, despite menstrual hygiene remains a neglected component that affects the life course of many women and girls. Worldwide, it is estimated that currently; about 800milions women and girls globally face constraints in their needs to manage their menstruation well. In many parts of the world including Rwanda, periods can stop girls living normal lives. Girls still feel embarrassed or ashamed when on their periods, use improper subtitles as sanitary products, and even miss out on vital education because of them. While girls’ and women’s menstrual health and hygiene have been going unmet, the issue has become even worse due to Covid-19 pandemic consequences.
Evode Niyibizi, Program Manager, African Youth and Adolescents Network population (AfriYAN Rwanda) confirmed that the majority of menstruating girls are stigmatized by people around them.
He adds that the majority of women have no access to clean and safe sanitary products which has a long-lasting impact, especially on the school-going-girl children.
"Lack of facilities, stigma, and inappropriate sanitary products can push menstruating girls out of school," he says. "but through our aim, we hope to have a country in which no woman or girl is held back because she menstruates. For this to be a reality, we put forward the crucial role of men and boys, by educating them as we educate our sisters”.

Now that the whole world needs to join efforts together towards ending periods poverty more than ever, Community Health Boosters commits to this agenda in solidarity with the whole globe towards creating the world where everyone can access and afford the menstrual products of their choice, period stigma is history, everyone has basic information about menstruation (this also includes boys and men) and everyone can access period-friendly water, sanitation & hygiene facilities everywhere. Like this towards creation of a world where no woman or girl is held back because she menstruates by 2030, CHB through the African Youth and Adolescents Network (AfriYAN-Rwanda) have conducted a one-week Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) campaign (from 24th-28th, May 2021). The campaign aimed at breaking the silence around menstrual hygiene management in order to build a community where women and girls are no longer limited by their periods.

As part of the activities during the campaign, 20 adolescent peer ambassadors (boys and girls) were trained on menstruation and its linkage to sexual and reproductive health, harmful social culture norms on individual, community, systematic and institutional level as well as stigma and taboos that affect women and girl’s menstrual health and their participation in public daily life. In addition, these youths and adolescents were trained on management of menstrual hygiene using the Self-made Reusable Menstrual Pads in a way to help those girls/women who can’t afford the price of single use pads. Moreover, the participants were given a total of 75 packs of single use pads as an aid in management of their periods whereas other 50 packs were distributed in the girls’ rooms at 1 secondary school during the conduction of menstrual hygiene management outreach there.
Youth and Students Speak out
Rose mbabazi, the head girl, G.S Kimironko II said she knows her fellow girls who skip classes due to lack of necessary menstrual management equipment alongside problems of stigma and embarrassment around menstruation.
Anaclet Ahishakiye, executive director of Community Health Boosters a youth-led NGO founded by students from the University of Rwanda’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences, said they are committed to creating solidarity where every girl and woman can access and afford the menstrual product of their choice.

A STILL WAY TO GO >>>>> 2030
Towards creating the world where everyone can access and afford the menstrual product of their choice, period stigma is history, everyone has basic information about menstruation (this also includes boys and men) and everyone can access period-friendly water, sanitation & hygiene facilities everywhere; there is a need of multi-stakeholders’ (non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media, etc.) efforts, and inclusion of both girls/women and boys/men.
There is a need for increased investments in community awareness raising programs (to break the silence, and change negative social norms around MHM), sanitation facilities including availability of water, soaps, disposal places, private rooms for girls and women, and menstrual hygiene materials.
More Articles Related to the Campaign:
https://inyarwanda.com/inkuru/106068/kigali-urubyiruko-rwahuguwe-ku-isuku-mu-gihe-cyimihango-ndetse-nuko-rushobora-kwikorera-im-106068.html
https://www.thecampus.rw/post/view/its-time-for-action-end-stigma-to-menstruating-girls-and-women

Delivery of Comprehensive Reproductive Health (CRH) information and raising awareness of the YAhealth App via RBA Community Radios

Within Five days of radio talks (February 14-19, 2022), CRH messages were disseminated and educated listeners on YAhealth App. Radio listeners were enlightened on the use of YAhealth application as source of reliable and accurate information and menstrual cycle tracking for young women. The activity aimed to create a rapid demand and increasing awareness and use of YAhealth application as a source of reliable and accurate information on FP/ASRH and mental health, menstrual cycle tracking, digital space to talk freely on ASRH and mental health, and service location tracking and promote the usability of application.
During the talks, listeners of different radios were very amazed by this new application that is going to help them access all information and help them talk freely on sexual and reproductive and mental health matters. Listeners were also encouraged to visit different youth corners that are found in every health center as well as keep listening to sketches by SBC through URUNANA. Many young people were aware of YAhealth application and those with smartphone have started downloading and using the app
“Get YAhealth App Now and Enjoy the Digital Health!!!!”
You can access the YAhealth Application through the below links:
• YAhealth App for Android
• YAhealth App for IOS
• YAhealth web link

Training of YAhealth App peer ambassadors in 10 Districts of distinguished Provinces of Rwanda

YAhealth is a bilingual (English and Kinyarwanda) and online-offline MobileApp , Web Application and Short code (*411#) for feature phones, which provide accurate and reliable user and age-centered (to age groups 10-14, 15-19 and 20-24) information on different SRHR/FP and Mental health topics, Gender-based Violence (GBV), and Youth Relationships, connects them to the available services and gives them a room to talk and interact freely with peers or ASRH and Mental Health Experts.
Since March, 2022, CHB in collaboration with USAID/INGOBYI Activity, has been conducting the Pilot testing of YAhealth App in 10 distinguished districts of Rwanda to anticipate/identify early some technical problems/issues, and evaluate the feasibility, responsiveness, and performance of the App and collect feedbacks before launching it to the public.
This pilot test aimed:
 To compare the actual and proposed performance of the App,
 To create the App champions who will aid in its dissemination and promotion,
 To gauge youths and adolescents’ reaction to the App,
 Debug the App so as to get the chance to fix these bugs beforehand,
 Checking the readiness of the App for full-scale implementation.
During this Pilot testing, community outreaches were conducted in 5 sectors of Gatsibo; 10 sectors and 4 H.Cs of Ngoma; 6 H.Cs of Ruhango; 3 H.Cs of Nyagatare; 2 sectors and 10 H.Cs of Nyanza; 1 sector of Muhanga; 3 sectors and 7 schools of Musanze; 3sectors and 4 schools of Rubavu; 4 sectors of Gicumbi; and 11 H.Cs of Huye Districts. In these districts, the total of 2,045 people was reached including 1,655 out of school youths (855 girls and 800 boys), 49 students, 220 teachers, and 121 ASRH focal points.

Specifically, the teachers were briefed on how they can use the app in delivering CSE in Smart Classes at their schools and most of them pointed out how this app will help the students to access the information and ask the related questions or support through the chat in private and confidential means since they are not yet fully open to talk to or ask for support from their teachers. On the other hand, teachers said that this app will be a daily tool to help them deliver sexuality education comprehensively. In addition, the participants were very thrilled with the app features and how they specifically tackle the existing ASRH and mental health challenges facing young people by promoting access to reliable and trusted information, offer a room for young people to talk and interact freely among themselves and with experts on ASRH and mental health matters, and connect young people to the existing services.
The trained youths, teachers, and ASRH focal points are giving back to their respective communities by disseminating the app among their peers, helping students to use YAhealth App through smart classes in their respective schools, and promoting the use of app among the youths and adolescents who consult the youth corners respectively.

CHB among the winners of youth-led organizations Hackathon 2021

Header: CHB among the winners of youth-led organizations Hackathon 2021
YAhealth being a youth-friendly, time saving, less costly, private and confidential, trusted, and reliable source of information and also being a bridge that links the youth to the health services, it is now being appreciated and accredited by distinguished stakeholders.
Through the Youth Innovation Challenge organized by The Ministry of Youth and Culture, UNICEF and Imbuto Foundation under the Generation Unlimited, YAhealth App was selected and awarded to avail the youth mental health related information as a way to stimulate the seeking behavior of mental health services, break stigma and misconceptions around it, help the youth to detect earlier the mental health issues and enhance normalization of mental health in the community.
This Application aims at creating a rapid demand and increasing awareness and uptake of Family Planning/Sexual and Reproductive and Mental Health services amongst youth and adolescents.
You can access the YAhealth Application through the below links:
• YAhealth App for Android
• YAhealth App for IOS
• YAhealth web link

Campaign about the role of CSOs, key and vulnerable populations in reducing the new HIV infections and ensuring that people living with HIV have the same opportunities as all others.

World AIDS Day is global health day founded in 1988 observed each year on December 1 and it is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV, and remember those who have died. During 2020, the whole world celebrated it under the theme “Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility” calling to Government, CSOs and other stakeholders to join hands together in fight against HIV/AIDS. Through our “CARE” Program, we are very committed to the World Agenda of fighting against HIV/AIDS through empowering the youth to create the next generation free from HIV/AIDS.
In partnership with Rwanda NGOs Forum, Medical Students Association of Rwanda, Community Health Boosters has participated in the pre-AIDs Day Celebration one week Campaign that aimed at highlighting the role of CSOs, key and vulnerable populations in reducing the new HIV infections and ensuring that people living with HIV have the same opportunities as all others. Due to Covid-19 prevention restrictive measures, this campaign was conducted mainly virtually via social media campaign, Radio and T.V shows and Communities by distributing condoms. The campaign paid more focus on raising awareness and reminding the Rwandan Community about HIV transmission prevention and control measures including, practicing protected and safe sex using the condom, voluntary testing, use of ARVs for the HIV positive people, proper disposal and handling of sharp objects, etc.
On Nov 25th, 2020 we were invited on Radio Rwanda to discuss about “The role of Young People in Preventing New HIV Infections”. The discussion paid more focus on the myths, misconceptions and behaviors around the adoption of HIV prevention measures and use of related services among the Rwandan Youth.

In addition, we have distributed more than 14,000 condoms in distinguished Campuses of University of Rwanda as one way of preventing new HIV infections among university students. It is by the youth’s interventions the world will achieve the future free from new HIV Infections. This way, more commitments, investments and solidarity are collectively needed to empower the youth through capacity building and integrating them into the agenda of fighting against new HIV infections through creating for them a space in decision making, HIV Policy and Strategic plans’ design.

Showcasing the YAhealth App at the United for Health Conference Exhibit

YAhealth Application was one of the selected innovations to be showcased at the United for Health Conference Exhibit organized by the University of Rwanda/College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rwanda Biomedical Center and other health partners. During this event, the participants including secondary school and university students and distinguished officials from government, non-government, public and private institutions were briefed on the app, its purpose and how friendly, time-saving and confidential it tackles the ASRH/FP and mental health challenges facing young people and adolescents through its innovative features
This Application aims at creating a rapid demand and increasing awareness and uptake of Family Planning/Sexual and Reproductive and Mental Health services amongst youth and adolescents.
You can access the YAhealth Application through the below links:
• YAhealth App for Android
• YAhealth App for IOS
• YAhealth web link

Brand New Smartphones are awarded to the Winners of YAhealth Social Media challenge!

CHB, in collaboration with USAID-INGOBYI Activity, conducted the YAhealth social media challenge to promote the App. This was an awarded massive and participatory social media challenge aiming to introduce and increase the visibility of the YAhealth App to the public (beneficiaries). It was conducted on social medias and 1 twitter; 1 Instagram and 1 App best referrer winners were awarded with brand new smart phones.
Before the Challenge, a webinar of 50 participants including 30 social medial influencers was conducted. The webinar aimed at raising awareness of YAhealth App among youth representatives and social media influencers, ensuring their participatory role in promotion of the App, introducing participants on YAhealth social media challenge, and training Participants on use of YAhealth app.
This one-month challenge (Feb 7th-March 4th, 2022) looked to raise awareness of YAhealth App to social media influencers and social medial users, increase awareness on the download and use of the YAhealth application, sensibilize young people on the use of YAhealth and creating ambassadors for the Application. It was open to everyone who uses twitter, Instagram& Facebook and whoever was able to refer others through the app. The contestants through social medias used either the designed posters, self-shot video or a screenshot of any feature or content of the app to share the app promotional and attractive messages on their handles. For the app users, they could sign up to get the referral code to attract as more downloads as possible through that referral code.
OUTCOMES OF THE CHALLENGE;

The best App referrer being awarded

This Application aims at creating a rapid demand and increasing awareness and uptake of Family Planning/Sexual and Reproductive and Mental Health services amongst youth and adolescents.
You can access the YAhealth Application through the below links:
• YAhealth App for Android
• YAhealth App for IOS
• YAhealth web link

YAhealth Game: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

This is an SRH game designed to be played by young peers and peers, children and parents, teachers and students. Its main purpose is to create a rapid demand and increase awareness and uptake of FP/ASRH services among young people through social behavior change in a funny learning environment!
The game also demonstrates how the negative sexual and reproductive health consequences like teenage/unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS can badly affect the life of young people and how on the contrary, its positive power like abstinence and protected sex can favor them to achieve the success in life. In addition, the game teaches sexual and reproductive health, life and social skills to the young and adolescent people through the Question-Answer approach using the cards. The game questions are classified into age groups of 10-14 and 15 and above, and can be played by 2-4 people. This breaks the silence, stigma, embarrassment, judgements, cultural barriers, misconceptions and myths around the sexual and reproductive health.
The conversations around sexual and reproductive health and sexuality remains in “SILENCE” While being a vital aspect of growth and development throughout our lives. To add on, teaching about reproductive health education is not always easy. It includes talking about bodies, sex, and sexuality, which takes preparation and courage. The topics can seem personal and even embarrassing to many of us. YAhealth “Youth and Adolescent Health” game aims to trigger, open up and favor the discussions around reproductive health between peers and peers, children and parents, teachers and students by providing high quality reproductive health education.
Because a lot of schools don’t have the smart classes where students can be able to access the smart/small phones and computers, YAhealth game is designed to be specifically used in secondary schools in students-to-students or students-to-teachers/mentors learning approaches. In addition, this game will be used in youth corners, safe spaces and youth-friendly centers by the young people and health educators during education sessions targeting out of school and in schools’ young people during the holidays. Moreover, it also looks to promote parents/guardians-to-children discussions around sexual and reproductive health at home.
By meaningfully engaging the young people in the funny learning, this game contributes to promotion of reproductive health and equipping the youth with the related information and skills through; increasing key message retention, decreasing anxiety, increasing group cohesiveness, getting them to talk, helping youth learn from each other, energizing players, taking players’ minds off troubles, teaching social and life skills, building the thinking skills, offering a chance to “show off” knowledge, lightening up the setting and FUN!
These tools—both information and skills provided through this game— equips youth for a lifetime of high self-esteem, physical and emotional strength, loving relationships, planned families, and positive sexuality and masculinity. These tools will also protect them from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unwanted pregnancy, abortion, rape, emotional and physical violence.

Youth and Adolescents “YAhealth” Digital Health Platform

YAhealth is a bilingual (Kinyarwanda and English), user and age-centered (age groups 10-14, 15-19 and 20-24) offline-online MobileApp, Web Application and USSD Code (*411#) that provides youth and adolescent with reliable and trusted SRHR/FP and Mental Health information, connects them to the available services and gives them a room to talk and interact freely with peers or ASRH and Mental Health Experts.
The misconceptions, fear of judgments by the community, families, health workers and peers, lack of awareness on availability of services, affordability, stigma and embarrassment among others, limit the access to sexual and reproductive and mental health information and related services, and it negatively impacts the lives of young people and adolescents. This way, we’ve come up with an innovation to revolutionize youths’ lives. Smart and mobile phones, mobile apps, and the internet are part of most of youth’s life. Referring to this technology, we invented Youth and Adolescent Health “YAhealth” Application, as the new technology in the community to address this predicament challenge.
In addition, the YAhealth App has:
Menstrual Cycle tracking system that helps girls/women to track and predict their next menstruation and fertile periods, and get notified prior to each of these periods. This then contributes to a proper menstrual hygiene management and prevention of teenage/unwanted pregnancies.
Self- Mental Health Status Screening System with a mix of standardized questions set by WHO on distinguished mental health disorders facing young people, for early and easy detection.
Private Chat which helps young people to chat with ASRHR/FP and Mental Health experts in a youth-friendly and confidential way
Discussion Forum that offers a safe space to openly and freely talk and interact with fellow peers in a youth-friendly, private and confidential environment. This reduces stigma and embarrassment, and isolation, discrimination, anxiety and depression that may arise from loneliness and other factors.
Service Location Tracker which helps the young people to locate the service delivery points including Health centers, Hospitals and Isange One-Stop Center, clinics, youth-friendly centers and corners, and condom kiosks on the map.
Gamified Quizzes which helps young people to assess their level of skills in regards to SRHR/FP and mental health
This Application aims at creating a rapid demand and increasing awareness and uptake of Family Planning/Sexual and Reproductive and Mental Health services amongst youth and adolescents.
You can access the YAhealth Application through the below links:
• YAhealth App for Android
• YAhealth App for IOS
• YAhealth web link