The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) with funding from Estee Launder Group of Companies formally known as MAC cosmetics has launched a one-year project aimed at enhancing sexual reproductive health and menstrual hygiene Services to Adolescents including those living with disabilities in Lusaka.

Enhancing Sexual Reproductive Health, Menstrual Management Among Adolescents Including Differently Abled Adolescents (ESMADA) is a one-year project with an estimated budget of $100,000 to help adolescents and young people aged between 13 to 24 years with Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) education and information as well as support Menstrual Hygiene Management in 12 health catchment communities of Lusaka District namely:

• Kanyama
• Chawama
• Chainda
• Mandevu
• Chilenje level 1
• Mutendere
• Matero
• Chipata
• Kamwala
• Chaise
• Bauleni &
• George

The project is targeting 1200 adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and 1000 Adolescent Boys and Young Men (ABYM) between the ages of 13 to 24 years by the end of 2023.

CIDRZ ESMADA Project Manager Brenda Kayumba said that beyond the provision of comprehensive sexual reproductive health (SRH) education and menstrual hygiene management services to AGYW, the project will improve access to SRH and menstrual hygiene services for different abled adolescents as well as train 24 health workers in the provision of disability friendly SRH services in 12 health facilities.   “The project also aims at scaling up the MY SAFE SPACE MOBILE APP to reach at least 10,000 adolescent users across Zambia with SRHR information and education as well as access to online counsellors via the mobile app,” explained Ms Kayumba during a stakeholders meeting held at CIDRZ campus in Lusaka’s Ibex area.

The meeting was attended by Key stakeholders including the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD), the Ministry of Health (MOH) and representatives from the Ministry of Education based at the Lusaka District Education Board Office (DEBS) who shared ideas on how to better implement the ESMADA project to meet its objectives effectively.

Speaking during the meeting ZAPD Provincial Coordinator Shireen Munkombwe said they are delighted to work with CIDRZ in delivering such timely services to adolescents living with disabilities because they equally have SRH needs just like abled people, and they often face barriers to information and services which is necessary for health and safe relationships including protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Meanwhile ZAPD Senior Implementation Officer, Emma Phiri said menstrual hygiene management for adolescents with disabilities is as important as for their peers, therefore, “ZAPD will collaborate and partner with the CIDRZ in sensitizing and disseminating information on menstrual hygiene to AGYW with disabilities in their information publicity packages in a positive manner”. And Ministry of Health Representative Haswell Malombo thanked CIDRZ for organizing such an exceptional meeting bringing stakeholders together to understand the ESMADA project before implementation. He highlighted that adolescent health issues are key and one of the most important issues that the Ministry works on and given that the project has a minimum implementation window it is important to work with key stakeholders.