PRESENTATION OF SALIMA AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION(SASO) ON SRHR POLICY 30 TH JUNE 2011

BACKGROUND OF SASO Salima AIDS Support Organization (SASO) is a non-profit making NGO. Established in 1994 and got registered as a local NGO in February 2004 Is a member to various network such as CONGOMA, NAPHAM, MANET, DCA HIV PLATFORM, Civil Society Network (Salima) and educaids Malawi. The organization operates in T/A Kalonga, Khombedza, Pemba, Maganga and Ndindi It has 20 established staff members and 8 Board members

SASOs SRHR POLICY AREAS OF FOCUS The policy is addressing the issues found during the needs assessment and such issues include; Girls and boys lack information about puberty issues Young people feel that access to SRH information and services are crucial to them. Boys and girls have misperceptions concerning their self-identity as boy or as girl: they need correct information concerning their gender roles

CONT’D Boys and girls have several reasons to engage in sexual activities. I.e to have money, companion, sexual desire though a lot of them indulge in sex, they further said sex should be done between two married people. Young people have a knowledge about signs of the most common STI’s and how to get infected by HIV. They have concerns and fears about the future when one is infected. They do not have enough knowledge about preventing these STI’s and HIV

CONT’D Young people do not seeks medical help when having a STI because of embarrassment and fear being diagnosed with HIV. They prefer getting medical services from a traditional healer because they are friendly and approachable. Young people have myths about the use of condoms, although availability is not a problem. Young people in Salima have usual sex around the age of 12 years and get married at the age of 15 and above due to peer pressure and poverty. Young people have also dreams about their future, to become respective and responsible citizens.

SASOs SRHR POLICY MISSION AND VISION SASOs SRH&R policy vision shall be; Sexual Reproductive Health – A right for the youth in Salima SASOs SRH&R mission shall be; To contribute towards promotion of SRH&R through provision of information, treatment, care and support for the youth in Salima SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS TARGET GROUPS The youth both in and out of school in Salima will be the primary target audience in this policy.The target audience age range (10-24 years)

Cont’d The secondary target audience will be the teachers, parents, school committees, health care providers, peer educators and local leaders.

SASOs SRHR OBJECTIVES To promote positive behavioral change among the youth in Salima by To enhance the capacity of SRH&R service providers in providing correct and consistent information on SRH&R by 2015 To Increase number of teachers and peer educators with adequate SRH&R in primary, secondary schools and the communities in Salima by 2015 To empower the communities to disseminate/educate their children in SRH&R information in Salima by 2015

SRHR approaches SASO will promote participatory methodologies in this SRH&R policy which among the methodologies/ approaches to be promoted is STAR thus Society Tackling AIDS issues through Rights. The PANEL thus Participation, Accountability, Networking, Empowerment and Linkage with human rights and ABCDE

Dealing with sensitive issues SASO will ensure that participatory information sharing and education among the youth are being done.

Monitoring & Evaluation For effectively service delivery the SASO conducts monitoring visit on regular basis to track the progress, the evaluation of the project will be done on quarterly, biannually and annually to track the outcome that has been made, challenges facing and lessons learnt in the service delivery

Thank you very much for your attention May GOD bless you all.