WACameroon takes reproductive health education to schools

Women in Action against Gender Based Violence (WACameroon) a Bamenda based not for profit nongovernmental organization was Saturday April 16 in the Campus of the Cameroon College of Arts Science and Technology (CCAST) Bambili at the start of a two years project that will take the organization to some six schools in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.

The campaign is “training and engaging adolescents against new HIV infections and surviving the infected” sponsored by Positive action for children Fund PACF.

Talking to hilltopvoices, Awundoh Judith Coordinator of WACameroon explained that the six schools were chosen following their population, vulnerability and prevalence rate. With 3% prevalence from recent statistics, the population and consequently the vulnerability level, CCAST Bambili was just appropriate to start with; she explained.

Throughout the come together which exceptionally assembled more students than expected on a Saturday; a generally no schooling day in Cameroon, the very interactive session gave the students an opportunity to share some words they use to substitute common reproductive health terminology. Chosen words were sex, sperm, virgin, pregnancy, HIV, lesbian/gay. According to the students they use substitute words for fear of parents and religious authorities.

At the close of a group working session, the students recommended for themselves education first, no sex before marriage, proper dressing for students, obedience and a host of others.

The students literary wept when they were brought face to face with an HIV infected patient who explained how they use to distribute the decease to many other people in the society. The infected while noting that spreading has stopped because of a new found life with Christ, discouraged the students from just interacting with just anyone they meet particularly sexually.

Sharing with hilltopvoices on lessons learnt Kelvin Nkafo F3 said; sex education has no age limit; Zefack Godless/Abeng Nomo F3 affirmed they are taking seriously the lesson having sex only after marriage.

According to the coordinator of the Health club of CCAST Ghogomo Nicoline, the workshop was enriching. “We will evaluate the students on how they spread the message to their peers.”

Justifying the involvement of teachers and health club leaders, the Coordinator said they will be responsible for follow up of students since they are with them every time.