HIV/AIDS is a serious problem in Tanzania, affecting 6.5 percent of people aged between15 and 49. With high transmission rates among young people, teaching sex education at school offers the best hope of raising awareness in children who are approaching sexual maturity.
AMREF is working in the Mwanza region of north-west Tanzania to educate young people about their sexual health. Called MEMA Kwa Vijana - meaning “Good things for young people” in Kiswahili - the project aims to reach half a million school children aged between 12-19 years old.
As an age group, adolescents are excluded from many public health interventions and international targets and goals, such as the Millenium Development Goals. They are perceived to be free from the health risks of early childhood and far from illnesses associated with old age. AMREF recognises that young people can make responsible decisions about their own health if given appropriate information, services and support. With support, they can also motivate their peers to make safe decisions
This project runs between January 2004 - December 2007 and aims to:
- reach 649 primary schools and 179 clinics in Sengerema, Geita, Misungwi and Kwimba districts and raise awareness among 519,200 young people about sexual health and HIV/AIDS
- research ways in which sexual health support services can be improved for young people
- improve knowledge and attitude toward sexual health
- communicate the lessons learned from MEMA Kwa Vijana to HIV/AIDS work in the rest of Tanzania and the world
Key achievements
- MEMA has trained 630 teaching staff to raise awareness about adolescent sexual health
- MEMA has trained staff from the Ministry of Education to advise teachers on sexual health issues after the project finishes
- MEMA has trained 227 health workers to provide youth-friendly services on family planning, child birth and sexually transmitted diseases
- MEMA has raised awareness of adolescent health issues in local government in Sengerema, Geita, Misungwi and Kwimba districts
