State of SCORA Africa Report

STATE OF SCORA AFRICA REPORT CEPHAS KE-ON AVOKA SCORA Regional Assistant for Africa 2013/2014

2014

I

I F M SPage A S0C O R A

The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) is an international and intercultural melting pot of knowledge, innovation and determination. It represents over 1.2 million students worldwide, in more than 100 countries across 6 continents. There are 6 standing committees within the IFMSA working in various sectors which include public health, research, medical education, human rights and reproductive health.

The mission for IFMSA is “IFMSA unites medical students worldwide to lead initiatives that impact positively the communities we serve. IFMSA represents the opinions and ideas of future health professionals in the field of global health, and works in collaboration with external partners. IFMSA builds capacity through training, project and exchanges opportunities, while embracing cultural diversity so as to shape a sustainable and healthy future.”

Through this IFMSA continues to produce well rounded health professionals ready to take on the challenges in the ever-changing field of health at both the local and global level.

STANDING COMMITTEE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INCLUDING AIDS (SCORA)

Medical students of IFMSA formed the Standing Committee on Reproductive Health including AIDS (SCORA) in 1992. Through SCORA, medical students across the globe work locally, nationally and internationally to increase awareness concerning reproductive health related issues. SCORA focus areas are:  Comprehensive Sexuality Education  Maternal Health,  Stigma and Discrimination  Safe Abortion  Sexual Violence SCORA has a variety of projects that differ from country to country, however they all share a common basis- interactive methods which involve young people and stimulate them to think creatively. Our major focus is on discussion, open communication and interaction rather than long didactic lectures. We use strategies such as peer education, training programs, online education and resource sharing as well as community education and outreach to achieve our set goals. We believe that: “The only way of fighting AIDS is through prevention. The only way of prevention is through education.” Our peer education programs entail regular education and training of medical students all over the world to be peer educators and counselors in their various communities. We also run transnational projects in which a group of countries work on a common project with shared goals and responsibilities.

IFMSA SCORA

SCORA AFRICA SCORA Africa is the representation of the international SCORA committee within the Africa Region. We have 15 National Member Organizations (NMOs) within the IFMSA Africa region but currently only 9 NMOs have a SCORA committee. At the Africa Regional Meeting in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in December 2013, we had a massive attendance of medical students from all over the continent. A total of 34 participants attended the SCORA sessions from FGMSA Ghana, NiMSA Nigeria, MedSIN Sudan, MSAKE Kenya, AEM Burkina Faso, TAMSA Tanzania, EMSA Ethiopia and MESANA Namibia.

With the goal of developing, promoting and empowering medical students’ activities, aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health and rights for the benefit of their communities; a needs assessment was carried out by representatives of the various countries present. An analysis of the current status of reproductive health services in their NMOs was done, including the major problems confronting them, projects currently being run and any form of support needed. The results of this needs assessment are presented here:

IFMSA SCORA

ETHIOPIA STATUS Current incidence of HIV/AIDS is decreasing Use of contraceptives is increasing Social awareness towards HIV/AIDS is increasing Harmful cultural practices like FGM, early marriage are decreasing Increase in access to safe abortion Increased awareness of STDs ART and nutritional supplements are provided for free Maternal mortality rate is decreasing Projects Peer Education Training Health education on Reproductive health VCT/PICT, school HIV and Reproductive Health clubs Advocacy campaigns.

IFMSA SCORA

TANZANIA STATUS Decrease in condom use Increased awareness on HIV and reproductive health issues Increased maternal mortality rate Increased use of and preference for norplant and depo provera Decreased deliveries at home Increased rates of unsafe abortions PROJECTS FGM Peer Education Training Health walks Bond (a mentorship program for children living with HIV); VCT campaigns

IFMSA SCORA

STATUS Decreased incidence and prevalence of HIV as a result of increased awareness, availability and affordability of condoms, PMTCT, PPAG initiatives Annual FGMSA projects and local committee mini clinics , fundraising and awareness

IFMSA SCORA

NIGERIA STATUS Burden of HIV/AIDS Maternal mortality Abortions Teenage pregnancy Poor Female Education NEEDS More trainings for improvement Encouraging more awareness campaigns Provision of screening kits PROJECTS Safe motherhood initiative campaign I-SAVE-A-LIFE project on safe blood donation Lectures on VVF during the national health week World AIDS Day

IFMSA SCORA

SUDAN STATUS Increased FGM rate Increased Maternal mortality Increased access to Family Planning Increased HIV/AIDS new infections Female Breast Cancer at 20% ; Males at 4%.

NEEDS Organise projects in a better way (more detailed structure) Work with all NGOs with the same goal e.g UN, WHO Better resources (info, finance, materials) Increased advocacy initiatives More events: increased awareness days and symposiums PROJECTS Against Breast Cancer Anti FGM MAMM- Medics Against Maternal Mortality Family Planning- by choice not by chance YPE-Youth Peer Education Project SSAP-Secondary School AIDS Program SAFE-Sexual Abuse Free Environment By choice not chance (family planning project)

IFMSA SCORA

NAMIBIA STATUS HIV in Children Cervical cancer Abortion Teenage Pregnancy PROJECTS CHAMPIONS-supporting children living with HIV CONDOMS-encouraging condom use COBES-community based education on PMTCT etc.

Breast Cancer (Pink Day)

IFMSA SCORA

BURKINA FASO STATUS Low patronage of contraceptives Increased FGM rate Increased unsafe abortions Increased rate of HIV Reduced ANC and Prenatal care PROJECTS Peer Education Training Shalon (an association that does peer education and with whom we partner)

IFMSA SCORA

KENYA PROBLEMS High MMR HIV prevalence 6% Rampant unsafe abortions High Ca cervix , breast cancer incidence rates SUCCESS Good ANC awareness Free maternity Good PMTCT Free medical services Comprehensive Abortion Care PROJECTS World AIDS Day Breast cancer awareness and Ca Cervix Free medical camps and Reproductive education Health talks- peer education, sex education Condom Friday Medics against maternal mortality (MAMM)

IFMSA SCORA

From what was discussed, we realized that these medical students have made a conscious effort to come up with programs and strategies aimed at solving the pertinent needs that they have identified within their countries. We therefore need to provide them with the needed support and encouragement to continue with these and possibly initiate new ones aimed at solving other problems identified. Our transnational project initiative would make room for inter-country collaboration in running these projects and achieving shared goals.

In an effort to map out a strategy for developing SCORA within the continent and making the committee more active and effective, we had an Ideas Café where participants brainstormed on certain key areas and came up with suggestions.

The key areas discussed included:     

Increasing work with externals Projects, proposals, challenges with initiation and implementation the way forward, transnational projects within the region Vision for SCORA Africa, focus areas, intervention strategies.

Increasing advocacy and peer education across the region Strategic plan for communication and recruitment for SCORA Africa

Below are the suggestions that the members came up with regarding each key area: INCREASING WORK WITH EXTERNALS Collaboration with externals has been a challenge within the region. However we recognize the importance/ support that SCORA Africa stands to gain from working with externals which is not only financial but more importantly non-financial such as resources and training. With regards to this the members came up with the following suggestions on how to tackle this issue: 

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Working with NGOs’ at national level with similar projects for example UNAIDS, Breast Care International, International Planned Parenthood Federation, World Health Organization SCORA officials to work on giving guidance to NMOs on approaching/collaborating with NGO’s Working on acquiring funds. This could be by gaining skills and guidance from officials in proposal writing and fundraising

IFMSA SCORA

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Use of social media to advertise activities undertaken by SCORA within the continent thus draw the attention of potential externals Have a database with information and resources about NGO’s working within the region.

PROJECTS, PROPOSALS, CHALLENGES WITH INITIATION AND IMPLEMENTATION, THE WAY FORWARD, TRANSNATIONAL PROJECTS WITHIN THE REGION Below is a list of projects undertaken in some of the NMO’s:  World HIV/AIDS campaign  Campaign against Breast cancer and abortion  MAMM- Medical Students against Maternal Mortality  Anti-FGM In spite of having these amazing projects, here are the problems that NMO’s face in initiating and implementation of these projects:     

Lack of awareness Inadequate funds Lack of resources Lack of equipment Lack of collaboration

VISION FOR SCORA AFRICA, FOCUS AREAS, INTERVENTION STRATEGIES. After discussions amongst each other, the members decided on the following vision statements for SCORA AFRICA:  Decrease STDs, maternal mortality and infant mortality  Increase reproductive health of all Africans In accordance to the reproductive health issues we face in Africa, below are the 5 focus areas that the members suggested for SCORA Africa in the coming year(s):  Safe Abortion  HIV/AIDs  Maternal mortality  Harmful cultural practices  Breast cancer

IFMSA SCORA

In coming up with intervention strategies for the 5 focus areas, the members divided the strategies into: Preventive and Curative interventions.

For the Preventive intervention strategies, they came up with:     

Awareness creation Education on contraception and family planning services Public education Partnership with other organizations Increased screening for cervical cancer and breast cancer

And the Curative intervention strategies include:  

Increasing health services access Affordable and accessible drug use

INCREASING ADVOCACY AND PEER EDUCATION ACROSS THE REGION Peer education and advocacy has been the pillar for SCORA both locally and internationally.

Education has been a key point in creating awareness on sexual and reproductive health issues and this is why this key area was addressed.

The members came up with the following suggestions with regards to increasing advocacy and peer education across Africa:          

Transnational Peer Education Training Increase Peer Education Training within NMO’s Involving externals: NGO’s in Peer Education programmes Involve non-medical students in advocacy and peer education Presenting in conferences as a platform for advocacy Use of social media Community outreach Involving professionals Involving other Standing Committee’s such as SCORP, SCOPH SCORA exchanges

IFMSA SCORA

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR COMMUNICATION AND RECRUITMENT FOR SCORA AFRICA With only 9 NMOs in Africa having a SCORA committee, it was crucial that the above key area be addressed. The more NMO’s we reach out to, the more SCORA members we get. And the more SCORA members we get and educate, the more people within our communities we reach out to.

In terms of the communication plan; these are the means the members came up with in increasing SCORA’s coverage within the countries/communities:  Social media  Involve the government  More regional conferences  Trainings  Concerts/exhibition  Previous achievements  Magazine  Blogs  Electronic news letters  Face-book page As for recruitment of new members and supporting members, these are the target groups the member came up with:    

Medical students Religious leaders Public/community Non-medical students

SCORA Africa educates, encourages and empowers its members with skills and knowledge necessary to bring change within their communities. SCORA members are young, vibrant, creative and determined medical students, passionate about Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights issues and HIV/AIDS. With adequate support and resources, these young people will be key to implementing initiatives within the society.

Active engagement of young people (as advisors, colleagues and stakeholders) by (governmental ,national and international non-governmental organizations ) or (member states and the civil society ) goes a long way in promoting the development and well being of young people and further developing their skills and capacities to ensure effective and sustainable community development.

IFMSA SCORA

Some of the ways in which youth can be engaged are as:  Interns  Participants in consultative workshops  Advisory forums  Members of country’s delegations to international meetings for example World Health Assembly, United Nation meetings.

SCORA Africa is therefore open to working with various externals within the continent towards ensuring that the needs discussed above are addressed. Working with externals (with similar goal/objectives as SCORA Africa) will provide SCORA Africa with a platform to learn, engage, advocate, communicate and negotiate with the decision makers of the society.

Thank You

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This document was drafted after the Africa Regional Meeting held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in 2013 with the sole aim of providing a basis for planning and strategy for each of the NMOs and for the region as a whole. I wish to thank Meggie Mwoka of MSAKE-Kenya for putting together this very wonderful document. I thank the SCORA Director- Joe Cherabie and Liaison OfficerKelly Thompson for editing and approving this document. It is our hope that it will serve as good institutional memory and propel the activities of the region to enable us achieve our shared goals Cephas Ke-on Avoka SCORA Regional Assistant for Africa 2013/2014.

IFMSA SCORA