Seychelles: Championing sexual and reproductive health through social media

Seychelles has been active in Sexual and Reproductive Health since its creation in the Ministry of Health, conducting outreach activities in schools, public places, and communities. Its Facebook page is active, with weekly posts which include pictures of  local activities and links from organisations, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO). The ministry officers reach students, young people and adult employees of various workplaces to inform them of their sexual and reproductive health and rights. They do lively interactive presentations, using props and visual aids. They also distribute male and female condoms, lubricating gel and leaflets.

Context 

Sexual and reproductive health and rights issues are still taboo in Seychelles. Young people, especially, do not have ready access to correct information about their bodies, their sexual health, contraceptives, abortion, sexual diversity, and dating.

There are Personal, Social and Civic Education (PSCE) teachers and counsellors based in schools. While the latter is more at ease talking to students about these issues, the PSCE teachers purposely avoid these topics when they are meant to teach them. They prefer to use the PSCE lessons to catch up on maths, language and science lessons. The students are thus not taught what is clearly in the curriculum. Adults, on the other hand, being of a different generation have not been sufficiently exposed to information on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Therefore, there is a need for action to engage children, youth, adults, parents, teachers and the public in general about SRHR. The organisation has thus been conducting sessions and running a Facebook to reach as many people as possible, in a friendly, engaging and non-threatening manner. The aim is to inform for better personal decision-making. Direct sessions and social media are used to reach a diverse population.

Activities 

There are three main approaches. One is to conduct sessions in schools, communities, workplaces and with specific population groups, e.g., drug users, and sex workers. These sessions usually last one hour with brief presentations and time for questions and answers.

The second method is roadshows or outreach activities in workplaces or in specific outdoor sites. These outreach activities are sometimes combined with a promotion being done by a private company. While the company is promoting its products, the Sexual and reproductive health Seychelles give customers information and offer voluntary HIV testing and counselling. Sometimes, the HIV tests are combined with other health issues, such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular problems. These activities are engaging and fun for the public who willingly participate as the tests are done freely and the results given immediately.

The third approach is using social media, such as the Facebook page, to send links from other sites (WHO, for example) and to give information about sexual and reproductive health and rights. The page also gives information about world days and weeks, such as World AIDS Day, World Hepatitis Day, World Health Day. The three methods allow the organisation to reach a wide variety of people and to tailor their information and messages to the target audiences. Therefore, the information given to secondary school students differ slightly in content, context and emphasis to the ones given to adults in their workplaces.

Partners 

The support comes primarily from the government, especially the Ministry of Health. The in-kind support comprises of salaries for the health workers, office space, internet charges, transport, stationery and other supplies. Other partners are workplaces and private companies, such as the telecommunications company – Cable and Wireless Seychelles. The National AIDS Council also gives support by allowing one of its employees to join the outreach and roadshow activities. The NGO LGBTIQ Sey also gives support through some of its members participating in the school and workplace sessions and the outreach programmes.

Achievements

Impact