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LUKHULA – With the integration of digital communication at tinkhundla centres countrywide, PSI Eswatini has taken the advantage to leverage on its market insight on these digital platforms to inform on self-care models supporting and coordinating health practices among the youth through accessing information on the internet.
PSI Eswatini Country Representative Dr Endale Tilahun, in his address during the launch of the Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) integrated programme sensitising on the importance of preventing unwanted pregnancies and equipping the girl child with knowledge on about sexual reproductive health practices, said his organisation in partnership with the Ministry of Health they had saved more lives of Emaswati through the provision of HIV testing services, condom promotion and distribution, cervical cancer screening and treatment and voluntary male circumcision.
The event was held at the Lugongolweni Inkhundla yesterday.
Forged
He said the forged partnership with Maverick Collective, an initiative of PSI, which is a community of women philanthropists making catalytic investments in health and reproductive rights to elevate women and girls everywhere, was significant in changing the lives of young women.
He said using a venture capital driven approach to philanthropy, members work alongside in-country experts and those serving to deepen the knowledge in building empathy to effectively advocate for issues that affect the livelihoods of young people.
“The programme has been coined in supporting the prevention of unwanted pregnancies through addressing supply and demand challenges and preventative methods of HIV among AGYW. The implementation of this programme will be led by the sexual reproductive health unit and the Ministry of Health,” he said.
Ministry of Health Adolescent Health Coordinator Zandile Masangane said the partnership with different stakeholders like USAID would propel the programme to achieving its main objective of reaching out to the youth in obtaining information about the challenges they faced while growing up in their respective communities.
Masangane said the programme would also ensure that the girl child had access to health services appropriately accommodating their needs in a well conducive environment.
She lauded PSI and other stakeholders supporting this programme for providing the much needed support to the young women in the country on issues that speak to their health.