Building Capacity of Service Providers on Sexual Reproductive Health
Service providers from seventeen (17) healthcare facilities convened for a capacity-building workshop organized by the Project “Expanding and Scaling up HIV, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services to Adolescents and Young Women (AGYW) in the Northwest Region”. The 2-Day workshop, which held on February 24, 2023, under the supervision of the Program Manager, Mrs. Awa Fanny, took place at the Nkwen Baptist Hospital Chapel.
Service providers are at the forefront of health care delivery and are the first point of contact after diagnosis. They came together to brainstorm on strategies to reduce infant mortality caused by HIV, prevent new mother-to-child transmission, and sensitize AGYW and Adolescent Boys and Young Men (ABYM) about Sexual and Reproductive Health.
The women and men were during the workshop separated into groups for gender fishbowl conversations during which they unveiled some challenges young Cameroonian boys and girls face by virtue of their culture and societal norms. They also engaged in participative group activities where they responded to common taboo questions about sexual and reproductive health in communities.
The workshop ended with the participants pledging to reinforce HIV and SRH education in their facilities and to create safe spaces and communities for AGYW and ABYM. In the end, Mrs. Awa Fanny thanked them for their commitment, encouraging them to serve their communities wholeheartedly because the health and mental welfare of the youths also depends on their hard work.
“The elimination of new HIV and Sexually Transmissible Infections, stigma, and discrimination can only be possible if you as the primary health care providers are diligent in your service to these people. You must avoid being the reason why they refuse to honor their appointments for treatment because harsh words were used on them, or they felt prejudiced by you”, Mme. Awa Fanny emphasized. The day ended with the service providers acknowledging having acquired skills that will contribute to more positive outcomes.