By Abubakar Sadiq Mohd, Zaria A Non-governmental organization, 'Stand With A Girl' initiative, SWAG has collaborated wi...
By Abubakar Sadiq Mohd, Zaria
A Non-governmental organization, 'Stand With A Girl' initiative, SWAG has collaborated with ABU on Gender Base Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health for a healthy and well informed society.
The Project tagged 'Campus Unites for SRH', (CUFS) was aimed at enhancing Sexual and Reproductive Health of adolescent girls and young women on university campuses and Zaria community, in Kaduna state.
Margaret Bolaji-Adegbola, the Executive Director of the Initiative while speaking to Newsmen in Zaria, shortly after a Workshop said the project began by targeting 60 theatre and performing arts students of ABU, CBOs and CSOs on Sexual and Reproductive Health sensitization and awareness campaign.
She noted with concern that 30 percent of girls between the age of 15-19 years have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner.
According to her, almost all of the 4.3 billion people of reproductive age worldwide will have inadequate sexual and reproductive health services over the course of their live.
She laments inadequate and well informed sexual decision by young people and lack of policy and mobilization support to factors aggravating the situation.
Mrs.Adegbola stated that the CUFS project intends to unlock the power of girls to make informed and right decision by making guided choice on their health life.
She said SRH empowers individuals to make proper decision about their sexuality while contributing to the overall health and well-being, promoting gender equality and impacting economic development by enabling people to control their fertility.
The Executive Director added that It also helps prevent issues like unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and maternal mortality rate.
"CUFS project will strengthen young people's skills especially students through social and behavioural change communication on health decisions particularly adolescent girls and young women.
"It will also enhance students ability to use theatre performances to educate the society on Sexual and Reproductive Health." She said.
In his remarks, Dr. Emmanuel Gana, the Head of Department, Theatre and Performing arts, ABU, said capacity building initiative on knowledge enhancement is part of their prerequisite at the university thereby the importance of collaboration with SWAG.
Represented by Habib Salahu, the HOD assured readiness of the department to step down the campaign for proper education and well informed decision on sexual and reproductive health to the students.
He urged the students to avail themselves the opportunity to learn more on their reproductive health to guard against unwanted pregnancies and other health related illness associated with unguided and uninformed sexual decision.
"As young people and an upcoming generation, you need to be well informed and properly guided on how to go about ur sexuality in order to ensure a healthy society." The HOD stated.
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