Jean Melaine Bitty | December 5, 2024
News Brief
In Yopougon, a bustling neighborhood in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, a local NGO offers sexual and reproductive health education to local youth. Nineteen-year-old Nahomie Kouadio visits the organization's resource centre to learn about sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, and how to protect herself. She says, “I heard on the radio that 20% of STI cases in Côte d’Ivoire affect young people my age.” The centre provides vital resources, including awareness sessions and practical materials, empowering young people to make informed decisions about their health.
Nahomie Kouadio is a 19-year-old student. She lives in Yopougon, a bustling neighborhood in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d’Ivoire. This morning, she doesn’t have university classes. Miss Kouadio is taking the opportunity to learn about sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, at the library of the Centre du Mouvement Action des Jeunes de l’Association Ivoirienne de Bien-Être Familial, a youth-focused organization dedicated to promoting sexual and reproductive health through education and outreach.
Miss Kouadio explains that she heard on the radio that in her country, 20% of cases of sexually transmitted infections affect young people her age. She says: “When I heard the figures, I was scared. That’s what brought me here to find information.” She hopes to find answers to her many questions about how they are transmitted and how to protect herself.
It can be difficult to access information on these topics, which are often taboo and not discussed between parents and children. Miss Kouadio recalls an experience where her mother confronted her after finding condoms in her school bag. She says,“These condoms were given to me during a school awareness session, which upset my mother.” However, she took the time to explain to her mother that the condoms were part of an educational initiative, this explanation reassured her.
Amélie Kouadou is a volunteer at the youth centre n Yopougon. She assists young people in their search for information. Miss Kouadou says: “Most of the young people who visit the Centre come looking for information on sexual and reproductive health. We are always here to support them.”
Her role involves raising awareness among adolescents about the risks of teenage pregnancies, protection against STIs, and more. She says: “Sex is a taboo subject in our society, which makes it harder for young people to access information. Yet adolescents, who are exploring their identities, need accurate information. In the absence of dialogue with their parents about sexual and reproductive health, the Centre welcomes and guides them.”
Miss Kouadou highlights that the Centre is a key space for communication and awareness. It offers practical leaflets and books with clear messages in the form of comic strips to explain best practices in sexual and reproductive health. It is a space where young people can express themselves freely and learn how to care for their bodies through the resources provided. The Centre also organizes video sessions featuring awareness films on STIs, contraception, and hygienic menstrual management.
In her quest for information, Miss Kouadio has realized the value of these resources and has committed to participating inactivities to deepen her knowledge. The Centre’s activities, led by Miss Amélie Kouadou, include training, counseling, information sharing, and education.
This resource was produced with funding from the PASSERELLE project, which is implemented in partnership with WUSC thanks to funding from Global Affairs Canada.
Photo: Youth at the centre consulting resources, taken by Jean Melaine Bitty in Côte d’Ivoire, 2024.