Books before boys because boys bring babies!
Thank you all for your contributions to, and/or interest in the teens project. The project gained so much momentum that along with all your help, and the generosity of Sue Barnes from KZN who makes and kindly donated the Subz pad packs for Simnayene Senior School (and who is copied in here), we were able to launch the project much more quickly than initially anticipated – we now have many experience and points of learning to discuss in deciding our next steps and direction!
Attached are a few photos to give you a sense of Wednesday workshop. At the request of the school, the workshop was planned for the week after exams, and it turned out to be a very wet, rainy and cold day. As a consequence only 52 of the 133 girls arrived (and 19 of the 121 boys). The noise of the rain on the tin roof of the hall was so loud at times as to make it almost impossible to be heard across the room so most of the work was done in small groups. The workshop generally went well and provided an invaluable opportunity for learning what worked best and what we need to improve for next time. The girls came up with some interesting questions such as ‘why do girls menstruate and not boys?’, and some good advice such as ‘books before boys because boys bring babies!’ (I like both the alliteration and the sentiment!). The pad packs were a big hit, as reflected in the look of delight on the girls faces! The girls were also intrigued to see the various forms of contraceptives that Sr Nkatini showed them (she is holding up the yellow card of contraceptives in the second photo). Sr Nkantini is from the primary health clinic and is starting a weekly reproductive health clinic at the school from next term. She came away with a substantial list of Grade 8 girls already eager to attend. The boys got good practice in the correct use of condoms.
The workshop lead to an additional, unplanned intervention which was the deployment of the empty boxes from the pad packs to the girls’ toilets to be used as bins for disposable pads. There are about 600 girls in the school and with a conservative estimate of three pads discarded at school per girl monthly, a total of 1800 pads being discarded a month – with no bins available in the bathroom. The photo shows the vice-principal employing the new strategy to see if the cardboard box bins will keep reduce expenditure on plumbers called in to unclog the toilets. In the end this may turn out to be the most cost effective intervention of all!
The remaining pads still need to be distributed to the rest of the class – we will use this as an opportunity to test a different distribution model – possibly during school hours, with the girls who attended the workshop supported to share what they learned with those who did not.
Stanley and Jackie please forward our thanks and the photos to the trainers from Mascinedane who so generously helped with the workshop, and especially thank Rozet for her moving and uplifting poem, and to Impumelelo for being such a great role model for the boys!
I look forward to discussing progress and planning the way forward with the steering committee at the next meeting on Thursday 2nd (next week) at the district health office. Everyone is welcome to contribute their ideas.
Kind regards
Michele
Media Release: City to pilot teen health initiative
The City of Cape Town’s Health Directorate is teaming up with NGOs and academic partners to help improve sexual health among teens. Read more below:
The City of Cape Town’s Health Directorate and various non-governmental organisations and academic partners are putting the finishing touches on a pilot project focusing on teen sexual health.
The project’s primary focus will be the distribution of reusable sanitary pads by the NGOs to address school absenteeism and dropout rates among female learners who are not equipped to manage their menstrual cycles.
City Health’s role will be to raise awareness about reproductive health and family planning matters as part of its broader strategy to curb teenage pregnancies.
The pilot project is being rolled out in City Health’s eastern sub-district, which recorded one of the highest rates of girls under the age of 18 giving birth in 2013. More detail on the City’s plans to address teen pregnancy is available via this link: http://tinyurl.com/npune38
‘I think the timing of this project is spot on, given that we are celebrating Youth Month. Our young people face a number of challenges, including many girls whose education is compromised because they are unable to afford sanitary protection or fall pregnant at a young age. We have a responsibility to help where we can through education, resources and projects such as these,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Health, Councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli.
The pilot project starts just after Youth Day on 16 June and will target Grade 8 learners at four schools in Mfuleni and Strand and Grade 7 learners at a school in Strand. Girls and boys will be educated about puberty in separate workshops, and the girls will be given a sanitary pack of washable and reusable cloth sanitary pads to help them manage their periods so they do not have to miss school. The packs include pads, panties, a waterproof bag for soiled pads, a leaflet with instructions on using and looking after the pads, and basic information about puberty. Workshops will also be held for parents and teachers on talking about sexual issues with children.
‘A similar project in the Eastern Cape resulted in a reduction in absenteeism among female learners, but also saw a reduction in the number of teen pregnancies. We will also be impressing upon schools the importance of ensuring that bins are provided for soiled pads as many girls use disposable pads. There is also a need to ensure that ablution facilities have adequate privacy and hand washing facilities to support the management of menstruation,’ said Doctor Michele Youngleson who is partnering with City Health on the initiative.
The pilot project will be measured based on school attendance, demand for reproductive health services, and the number of teen pregnancies recorded. If successful, the partners will engage schools across the sub-district to participate in the initiative.
‘Our northern sub-district has also tested a similar initiative, but ultimately I want to see this rolled out across the city. I believe there is a far greater need out there that we should address. It is unthinkable that children are being denied an education because they do not have the resources or know-how to deal with menstruation. In fact, there is still too much stigma attached to the issue as it is because, like sex education, there are some topics that are still taboo in many of our communities. It’s time for change and I am excited about this project because I think it could have a positive impact on the lives of many young people,’ added Councillor Mamkeli.
