EVA's peer mobilisers reaching out to young people in Nigeria.
Education as a Vaccine created a mobile app that connects girls with SRHR counselling and services
At just 16 years old, Cynthia Terse hailed from the Ikpanyongo community nestled within Benue State, located in Nigeria’s North Central region found herself perplexed by the changes occurring within her body, uncertain about where to turn for guidance.
However, her situation changed when she reached out to a community mobilizer from Education as a Vaccine (EVA) who visited her school and suggested she download the DIVA Mobile App, which is specifically designed to help adolescent girls and young women to learn more about their bodies and menstrual health; The menstrual period tracking app helps girls prevent pregnancy and maintain good menstrual hygiene.
EVA is a Fòs Feminista’s partner that works to improve the health and development of children, adolescents, and young people using child and youth-friendly approaches. They strengthen the capacities of children, young people, and other stakeholders to facilitate and sustain social change in health, protection, and education through integrated programming.
Cynthia took an active role in engaging with EVA’s community gatherings. Through these meetings, she openly discussed various contraceptive options. Cynthia opted for oral contraceptives, which would allow her to focus on her studies without fear of getting pregnant. The support and counselling provided has had a positive impact on Cynthia’s life, giving her the opportunity to make better informed decisions about her body and future.
In Nigeria, many young girls lack access to information about sexual and reproductive health due to harmful societal stigmas around sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). They do not know little about family planning, sexually transmitted infections (STI), and HIV transmission and prevention.
Their lack of access to SRHR information and services means there continues to be a high rate of teenage pregnancies, complications from unsafe abortions, new HIV infections, continuation of harmful traditional practices and proliferation of violence against young women and adolescent girls including forced child marriage.
However, initiatives like Education as a Vaccine’s mobile app make it possible for girls to learn about their bodies and access necessary health services by supporting young women and empowering them to take control of their health. On the DIVA app, they can read information on pregnancy, contraceptives and on menstrual hygiene and care; watch short video clips on menstrual hygiene, how to use a sanitary pad, tampons etc. and it is available for most cell phones.
