Youth Health
Project Behavior Change Communication (BCC) Activities on HIV/AIDS and Reproductive
Health (RH) for young people (10-24 yrs)
RHAC has been
implementing Adolescent HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Project since mid
1997.Presently, the project is implemented in Phnom Penh, Battambang,
Sihanoukville, Kampong Chham, Takeo, Siam Reap, Svay Rieng,
Mondulkiri, Kampong Speu, and Pailin; and covers approximately 615,000 young
people in 1,312 villages and 43 schools.
The program
implements activities contributing to reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS and
improve RH among young people through behavior change intervention. In order to
communicate RH messages and information to young people, the project use a
combination of peer educators conducting group discussion, one-on-one talks,
social events including, local theater( Lkhaon)/quiz show, village edutainment
quiz (VEQ), mobile videos, distribute educational materials, youth centers,
youth friendly services, and create enabling environment for young people.
Peer
educators (PEs)
The youth
health program work peer educators (PEs), who are responsible for hosting YouthCenter activities,
conducting group discussions and one-on-one talk on ARH topics, referring their
peers to further technical information or treatment services. The PEs of the
youth health program were recruited and trained on four main education topics,
including unwanted pregnancy (family planning, body change, and menstruation)
STI, HIV/AIDS, and illicit drug use. Of the four main topics, the program also
integrated some relevant topics, such as gender, life skills, nutrition, and
hygiene.
Youth
centers
Youth centers
serve as a place where young people come for relaxation and fun, and be exposed
to the educational group activities at the same time. The services provided at
twenty four youth centers including library, karaoke session, counseling and
referral to clinical services. Certain youth centers tried to attract
out-of-school youth by providing short term training on subjects, such as
sewing, art painting, and flower art design.
Youth-Friendly
services
The program
also promotes access to clinical services through the implementation of youth
friendly services and referral from PEs and other partner organizations.The
clinic staff has been trained in communication skills to deal with young
people. Confidentiality and privacy are assured, by providing young people with
separate entrance and waiting rooms. Services available for youth at RHAC
clinics and health posts are as follows:
Family planning
Diagnosis and
treatment for reproductive tract infection
Voluntary
counseling and testing for HIV(VCCT)
Provision of
emergency contraceptive
Antenatal and
postnatal care including HIV counseling
Rape victim care
and support
Premarital
screening and counseling
Post Abortion Care (PAC)
Youth received RH services at clinics/health posts in 2007
Create enabling environment for young
people
To create a supportive environment for the
Youth Health Program, RHAC establish relationships with community stakeholders,
including teachers, parents, village chiefs, and district authorities through
stakeholder orientation meetings at the beginning of each project cycle. The
purpose of the meetings is to educate stakeholders about the sexual and
reproductive health needs of young people and to seek their feedback and
support for the project. At the end of each calendar year, the project
organizes annual review meetings with all the stakeholders to review the
performance of the project and to develop next year action plan.
Technical support to government and NGOs
for Youth Friendly Services (YFS)
RHAC has long experience and success in
implementing YFS in all youth program sites and, also, in RHAC clinics; this
expertise was acknowledged by government and other NGOs. In year 2007, RHAC was
an active member of technical working group in the development of YFS training
curriculum and review the national YFS guideline; As requested by PFD, RACHA,
ADRA, and UNFPA, RHAC provided trainings on YFS to government and NGOs staff in
their respected coverage areas.
Key achievement of program year 2007
2,892
trained peer educators
2,173
peer educators received initial training
203,619
of condoms distributed
48,732
of youth under 25 years received STIs services
236
of social events organized with 312,775 participants
