New social phenomena in Africa including the rise in numbers of street children, child abuse, declining trends in early childhood education and cultural practices that discriminate against girls further contribute to a disabling environment for children. Adolescents have also emerged as a group with a high health risk. They are affected by sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies and hazardous abortion attempts which are often the result of poverty, ignorance, sexual abuse or poor access to information and services. The project expects to increase community awareness of adolescent reproductive health problems and identify solutions. A youth sexual and Reproductive Health Project in Masii, Mwala division, aims to facilitate sexual behaviour change among young people via health education, community and parent involvement and support to health facilities and their staff.
Early detection can lead to prevention of hearing loss.
The community's awareness of the problem is increased and the capacity of regular schools and community systems to integrate and lobby for support of disabled children are strengthened. School age children learn to disseminate public health and hygiene messages through activities such as songs and plays with health messages, formation of health clubs in schools for both girls and boys, training of male and female teachers to establish the programme in schools and production of learning materials in the local language. 58 primary schools have been involved since May 1995. The project was carried out for 1 years in Byumba and is now being implemented in Kiziguro district of Mutara Prefecture in North-eastern Rwanda. Working in Mwanza, Mara and Dar es Salaam, this project promotes safer sex behaviour and improved access to health care among adolescents already engaged in sexual activity.