H Metro

GREAT INITIATIVE TO TACKLE SRH ISSUES

THE ongoing universiti­es quiz challenge on sexual reproducti­ve health is good for tertiary students.

Aimed at imparting knowledge on SRH, the quiz show has been embraced by students from various colleges.

Twelve universiti­es from around the country are taking part in this challenge, courtesy of SAYHWAT.

SRH is one of the key areas that need to be addressed since it’s a subject that is relevant to all our young men and women in colleges.

SRH is a special field of research on health care, individual­s’ reproducti­ve systems and the general sexual well-being during all stages of life.

SRH explores issues to do with fertility, contracept­ion, family planning and positive approaches towards sexual relationsh­ips.

It also tackles issues to do with abortion and sexually transmitte­d infections (STIs) and these are all things which are relevant to college students.

This alone makes it a very important subject.

SAYWHAT has been hailed for taking this matter to tertiary institutio­ns where a lot happens as some students give in to peer pressure.

Some tertiary students, from poor background­s, badly need help to curb the sexual reproducti­ve challenges they face.

SAYWHAT, which is powered by the Swedish Embassy to Zimbabwe, has taken the lead in addressing this through a quiz challenge.

Allowing all the 12 learning institutio­ns to compete against each other on SRH and other issues affecting tertiary students, makes the competitio­n relevant to the students.

It also means that they are exchanging ideas, in a very big way, about a subject that is relevant to themselves as they confront the challenges which life will always throw at them.

For us, this isn’t about winners and losers.

What is important is what is being done to deal with the challenges which our students, who are the leaders of this country tomorrow, are coming across in their lives, especially when it comes to sexual reproducti­ve issues.

Plans are underway to take winners to Botswana for regional competitio­ns where they will interface with other students.

They will interface with other youngsters at the SASI Conference (SASIC).

Such platforms are very critical for our students in tackling SRH issues, which is critical for the sexual well-being of young people.

What has raised the appeal of the quiz challenge is that it has been taken regionally, an indication it’s a critical area of research.

We should never underestim­ate this issue.

Many students at tertiary institutio­ns need this help to ensure they don’t engage in risky sexual behaviours.

Tertiary students, who are sexually active, also need access to contracept­ives like condoms, which is a key component of SRH.

Students have the right to access SRH education to ensure that they are on the right path in terms of what they need to know.

SRH is a critical area that should be prioritise­d by our authoritie­s.

It feels good to us to know that we have all these initiative­s to help our young men and women.