| |
Back to Index
Crisis Report - Issue 237
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
November 12,
2013
Download
this document
- Acrobat
PDF version (664KB)
If you do not have the free Acrobat reader
on your computer, download it from the Adobe website by clicking
here
STIs
in Tertiary Learning Institutions, SAYWHAT Speaks Out
Following recent
media reports
claiming that there has been an outbreak of Sexually Transmitted
Infections (STIs) in colleges such as the Great Zimbabwe State University
(GZU), the Crisis Report (CR) interviewed Jimmy Wilford, Director
of SAY-WHAT
a non-governmental organisation that deals with sexual health matters
among students. Wilford, below, speaks at length about this issue.
Question: Do the recent media reports pointing to an outbreak
of STIs among tertiary students ring a bell, or confirm any trends
that you have noticed in students’ sexual health matters in
the past?
Answer: The
recent media trends that have sighted an increase in the number
of STIs both new and repeat cases amongst tertiary institutions
are a cause of concern to SAYWHAT. Unfortunately, most of the media
cases have not pin pointed in figures an increase in the number
of STIs at college clinics which information was going to be critical
to give a more reflective analysis on the prevalence of STIs amongst
college students in Zimbabwe. The cases that were reported in two
local papers the Herald and the Standard with a particular example
of 10 000 cases of STIs over a period of 3 months gave a more quantitative
reflection. However they failed to relate the figures to either
the college clinics or the times when the colleges are open to students.
The same story goes on to say most affected districts were Chiredzi
and Gutu and these do not host any tertiary institutions of note.
It is even more difficult to make a sound conclusion when most of
these Universities do not house students on campus. It makes it
difficult to track and attribute any trends noted to a specific
college as data collected at clinic level (T5 forms) does not require
the client to indicate their profession, but age and weight, amongst
other personal indicators. Although this data is relevant in directly
tracking the number of unprotected sexual contacts as well as other
spill over effects like unplanned pregnancy, it falls short in giving
comprehensive analysis on the state of STIs amongst college students.
Question:
From your assessment, how able has been the Zimbabwean government
in dealing with student health matters in general and sexual education
for tertiary institutions in particular?
Answer: To start with, college clinics are not under the custody
of the Ministry of Health and Child Care, but under the Minis-try
of Higher and Tertiary Education, where respective colleges are
left with responsibilities to select and recruit nurses as well
as the procurement of other essential drugs. This kind of arrangement
makes it difficult for college clinics to provide essential drugs
that treat SRH related cases as most of them are not certified to
provide such. For example, some University or college clinics do
not test for HIV, a procedure that can be done by a primary care
nurse in a clinic that is outside campus. Sexuality education is
differently tackled by different colleges with some only limited
to HIV, a situation which makes it difficult to enhance the capacity
of students to make informed choices. At national policy level,
there are no clear guidelines on how sexuality education will be
imparted to student trainees as part of their social development,
a situation that has resulted in some colleges, using lecturers
who are not trained in a sexual and reproductive health field to
conduct these lectures with student trainees. Most colleges are
operating with limited government support hence all the operational
costs are being derived from the fees paid by students, and with
such a scenario very little in terms of budget allocation trickles
the way of social development of students were SRH related programs
are supposed to be funded, thus competing with other social development
is-sues like sport and entertainment. From the general assessment
of SAYWHAT, there is greater unmet need to be fulfilled by government
to ensure comprehensive sexuality education as well as the provision
of youth friendly SRH services, which might go a long way in the
primary prevention of reproductive health challenges like STIs,
unplanned pregnancies, and unsafe abortions amongst others.
Question:
What do you think would cause STI outbreaks in tertiary learning
institutions if the recent media reports were accurate, and do you
believe poverty is one of them?
Answer: STIs
might probably be a symptom of other underlining political and socio-economic
factors, which if not addressed will continue having these symptomatic
challenges resurfacing. The past immediate budget for example allocated
to health only 9% of the 15% required by the Abuja Declaration,
and this will directly have a bearing on the amount that will trickle
to support SRH services and related information, knowing fully well
that 70-75% of funds allocated to ministries will be gobbled by
salaries and allowances. Sexuality education by nature is a social
expression of a biological drive and heavily depends on society’s
preparedness to tackle some of these SRH challenges as they emerge.
The inability by most portions of our society reflects as STIs at
college level, simply because the young people were not developed
to be assertive and resilient in the face of a wide range of challenges,
including those of a sexual and reproductive health nature. It will
be incomplete to associate poverty with the increase in the number
of STIs, but there are so many other factors that deal with the
software development of the students. For example, sexuality education
at f.amily level, which needs very little money, but only the accurate
information, correct attitude and sparing some time to remember
that family time is talking time. Poverty at a macro level affects
the ability of government to tackle preventable health related problems,
and at a micro level affects the families’ ability to access
quality services on SRH. For example, Zimbabwe today has the highest
maternal mortality rates i.e. 960 per every 100 000 live births
due to the high cost of maternity fees, leaving most families with
no option, but to have home deliveries. Early marriages that force
teenage females to resort to marriage as a way of dodging poverty
related challenges has resulted in more SRH challenges that are
even more fatal than the STI cases. For example, 30% of all maternal
deaths are amongst teenagers in Zimbabwe. Reflecting on tertiary
institutions, most risky behaviours are fuelled by the vicious cycle
of poverty as students will be trying to meet the high costs of
living on campus, which includes tuition fees, accommodation costs,
food, transport and clothing, which in their own regard are basic
needs not wants, and in the fullest rights, and not privileges.
The symptom that we will all observe by not fulfilling these rights
is the high cases of STIs as reflected by media reports.
Question:
How has SAYWHAT been filling the gaps in sexual health education
for university students?
Answer: SAYWHAT
has employed a three pronged approach as defined by its strategic
plan of 2009-2013. Firstly, SAYWHAT has been conducting activities
and initiatives that seek to generate and share information on sexual
and reproductive health rights, services and commodities. Secondly,
SAYWHAT has been the rallying factor in networking and advocating
for the rights of students on all matters to do with their sexual
and reproductive health rights. Lastly, SAYWHAT has provided support
and developed the capacity of students to meaningfully mobilise
their communities at all levels and challenge SRH related issues,
targeting young people in Zimbabwe.
Question:
What are your recommendations for other stakeholders, including
government in dealing with such problems of potential STI outbreaks
in universities?
Answer: SAYWHAT
recommends inter-ministerial dialogue and responses to ensure effective
co-ordination and implementation of all blue prints, targeting young
people by line ministries e.g. Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation
and Employment Creation, Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education,
Ministry of Health and Child Care, Ministry of Primary and Secondary
Education et cetera. SAYWHAT recommends increased efforts by government
to address under-lying causes of SRH challenges such as youth unemployment,
addressing students’ grants and scaling up of the health budget.
SAYWHAT recommends the meaningful participation of young people
in the designing, implementation, budgeting as well as monitoring
and evaluation of initiatives targeting them. SAYWHAT recommends
evidence based responses by both government and stake-holders as
youth needs are dynamic especially with regards to SRH. SAYWHAT
recommends a more defined curriculum as part of social development
that provides age appropriate sexuality education, services and
information, targeting young people from primary to tertiary institutions,
including youths out of school. SAYWHAT recommends the capacity
building of strategic government institutions (in service and pre
service) that deal with young people on youth friendly service provision.
SAY-WHAT recommends tailor made programs, targeting key populations
among young people such as adolescents living with HIV, youths living
with disabilities, orphans, youths in rural and resettled areas
as well as youths in learning institutions – colleges, police,
army et cetera.
Download
document
Visit the Crisis
in Zimbabwe fact
sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
