Zambia: Adolescent Focal Point person, Evelyn Mazaba recently announced the success Chilenje Hospital youth outreach programme. Chilenje Level One Hospital Youth Friendly Space (YFS) recently organized such initiatives in the communities and schools.
The aim of the outreach programme was to encourage the teens of the region to access the facilities at the department. The stakeholders of the department are extremely happy with the success of the programme.
Meanwhile, Adolescent Focal Point person Evelyn Mazaba says the department has received an overwhelming response. After the outreach effort, the Adolescent Focal Point person reflected on the success.
Mazaba says the centre has, in the last few months, recorded increased numbers of adolescent visitors accessing various services. Mazaba further explained that the outreach programmes that are conducted in communities and schools are aimed at educating adolescents about the various services they can access at the department.
She indicated that the outreach team is composed of trained nurses, clinicians and peers.
“We have more adolescents coming in because of the activities we are doing in schools where we have also created partnerships with the teachers and others who welcome us whenever we visit those places,” she said.
Mazaba noted that there are many challenges that adolescents face that cause them to feel marginalized.
She disclosed that the YFS engages the adolescents in various activities such as talks on Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) adherence and the dangers of defaulting.
She said the department also organizes support group meetings for breastfeeding and pregnant adolescents.
She further disclosed that all departments at Chilenje Level One Hospital have trained personnel in handling adolescents to ensure they are well managed when they come to seek services in various departments.
“In case a department is not able to handle a case, they refer it to us and the referral system is peer to peer to provide comfort to that adolescent, ” she said.
Meanwhile, Ms Mazaba has disclosed that the outreach program also caters for physically challenged adolescents and those in orphanages.
She said the team has been making efforts to reach them in places where they are found to talk to them and encourage them to visit the centre and access services being offered.