THE Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Africa Trust (SAT) on Friday launched a mobile application meant to provide adolescents with information on where and how to access sexual reproductive health services.
By Kuda Pembere
The application was established on the back of the high demand of SRHR issues. Prior the application development, there were physical YouthWyz hubs but for ease of access to some of the services, SAT with the help of various partners and Dure Technologies, an application developer creased it YouthWyz app.
YouthWyz is a digital hub I know most of you know our physical Youth Hubs. But now we have a virtual hub. It is more of a digital hub. It has been designed to physically disrupt the health delivery system for adolescents and young adults.
“It is not a disruption in a negative way but in a positive way. In terms of the research that we have done engaging the young people and the kind of challenges they are facing are issues to do with information. Where do we get a reliable platform for good information about sexual reproductive health and rights, HIV prevention. You know a lot of young people are very inquisitive to know what is happening with their bodies. And we said, let us package this into a youth friendly application,” said SAT Youth Programs Officer Mr Raymond Mazhambe.
He said the application seeks to provide credible and factual information on SRH issues.
“The YouthWyz application is there to provide information, communication and education. Credible information which has been approved by WHO. All of those credible sources.
“The application uses the power of modern technologies for example we are utilizing the social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp. YouthWyz is all over these platforms.
“We know there is a high unmet need for SRH services for young people and we know with this platform young people will be linked to the services,” Mr Mazhambe said.
Mr Mazhambe added, “The YouthWyz application is an integration of different approaches and various technological interventions.
“We have the social and behaviour change communication approach to ensure young people have the right intention to use it and increase the demand and use of SRH services.
“So the background of the application is premised on the model of promoting education, information, counselling services. And we also ensure that within that particular model we ensure that referrals are also there.
“So we have a full SRH package that we work on as SAT and it covers all these areas. So you will find that as you interact with the app, all these issues of GBV, SGBV, you may be experiencing, we link them to the reliable referral platforms.”
