Tonderai Saharo
Bikita- SolidarMed one of the leading non governmental organizations which strives to create access to basic health care for youths in Zaka, Bikita and Chiredzi districts has successfully trained 30 teenagers who will be instrumental in championing adolescence health.
The 30 peer educators were drawn from the three districts, Zaka, Bikita and Chiredzi, and successfully completed a week long intensive training workshop which empowered them with relevant skills on how to engage and tackle adolescence health issues with peers in their districts.
The project titled Teens Health Information and Innovation Service (THIIS) is expected to last for the next three years while an estimated 28 000 adolescence within the three districts will directly benefit from services being offered by the peer educators.
Dr Cordelia Kunzekwenyika, SolidarMed THIIS project manager told The Midweek Watch that adolescent health has been previously sidelined by policy makers with the affected age groups of 10 -19 year olds being marginalized and not able to talk freely about their health issues within communities and at local health centers.
“The trained peer educators basically will deal with the Physiological health of adolescents within the community from sexual reproductive health issues right up to their mental health issues as well as educating their peers on the effects of drug and substance abuse on their health at community level.
“We want community involvement on health issues at all levels and these trained peer educators will work closely at health centers in their districts thereby giving the youths space to engage with their peers who visit clinics,” Dr Kunzekwenyika said.
Tawanda Magara project assistant who was among the trainers said the teenagers were equipped with a wide range of topics chief among them was the problem-solving techniques which will be essential when engaging their peers.
The trained peer educators were ecstatic after completing the training course and as part of their graduation they embarked on a march against drug and substance abuse at Nyika Growth Point.
They showed skill passion and determination when they interacted with their peers around the Growth Point and are eager to kick start their peer educating journey when they return to their respective districts.
