Reproductive Health

Earlier in the year 2004, YARAC and MacArthur Foundation Staff in Nigeria paid a courtesy call on the Plateau State Honourable Commissioner for Education, Mr. Alex Chip. Officials of the Ministry who were present at the meeting included the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry, Mr. Shindai, Secretary to the Ministry, Mr. Fomwul, Director of Schools, Susan Choji, Director of Educational Services, Mrs. Rosemary Doh. Others present were the Director of Higher Education, Mr. Bernard Benshak, Chairman PTA Apex, Mr. Cephas Danjuma, Director Inspectorate Services, Joyce Dakun.

What is HIV?
How does HIV affect the body?
What is AIDS?
What is the HIV test?
How do you get infected with HIV?
How is the virus not transmitted?
Can mosquitoes spread HIV?

What is HIV?

Whatever Health education activities you do, well chosen and properly used materials can help you do it better. For example, if you are teaching people about how the body works, a flipchart can make it easier to explain. If you are having a group discussion about sexuality, flashcards and games can help to stimulate discussion. If you are teaching people how to use a condom, they will learn better by touching real condoms and practicing putting them on a model, such as a bottle.

INTRODUCTION

Before the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the concept of sexuality was a rare mention in the public space in most parts of Nigeria . Adolescents especially in the developing countries, still suffer from lack of access to adequate and correct sexual and reproductive health information and skills; have remained highly vulnerable to and victims of sexually transmitted infections/diseases including HIV/AIDS. Generally, 60 percent of the total number of persons infected are young people aged 15 -25 who die yearly (WHARC, Critical Issues in Reproductive Health and Rights in Nigeria. 2002). The ICPD in 1994 articulated some of the reproductive rights of adolescents to make decision(s) about their reproduction, free of discrimination, coercion, and violence. Consequently, there have been huge increase in the activities of NGOs / CBOs / CSO and other faith based organizations aimed at promoting the reproductive health and rights of disadvantage adolescent in developing countries including Nigeria.