24 Apr 2017

Youth friendly health services clinic on Saturday took to Mafenyatlala mall to market their services to not only youth but the public in general.
Speaking at the outreach programme that was organised to sensitise Molepolole residents about the existence of the clinic, youth clinic representative, Mr Tshidiso Bafore said the main objective of the outreach was that ever since the clinic was established in 2010 at Scotish Livingston Hospital (SLH), the clinic had made a huge impact, a milestone worth noting.
As a result, Mr Bafore said the clinic now attracted about 500 clients per month with different challenges such as alcohol and substance abuse, abortions, sexually transmitted infections, and teenage pregnancy among others.   
However, he said teenage pregnancy remained one of their main concerns in the youth clinic.
In March this year, six cases of teenage pregnancy were registered while in April already they had registered four new cases.
 Most of these pregnant teenagers are said to be students who are now forced to drop out of school.
However, Mr Bafore further explained that as youth clinic clinicians they had discovered that most of youth lack sexual and reproductive health information therefore “we are trying our level best to reach the community and urge the youth to come forward and open up about issues troubling them as keeping these matters to themselves does not only destroy them emotionally but also jeopardise their future and ends their freedom.”
He went on to explain that as a result, a youth club in YFS clinic called Voices of the Youth was formed and was made of volunteers and its mission was to enhance information dissemination to their peers.
Their motto is ‘My stance your stance.’
 Mr Phetso Taukobong, a youth who attended the event said in an interview that he did not know much about the clinic but he had learnt that the clinic was just like any other clinic but what made it different was that it was solely designed for youth.  
Therefore he cited that since the clinic was user friendly he believed most young people should not find it difficult to access its services and should feel free.  
He narrated a story of his cousin who found out that he had contracted a sexually transmitted disease and never sought help because he felt embarrassed.
Therefore, Mr Taukobong said had they known about the clinic then, his cousin could have been cured without anyone judging him.
He nevertheless advised that the clinic should strive to reach out to many youth through various media platforms such as television, newspapers and also promote their services through various social media space.
Nonetheless the event was a success as some See and Treat Clinic-which deals with cervical cancer screening, were available to disseminate information on various types of cancers mainly the cervical cancer which is seen as dominant in most of youth.
The event was held under the theme “Life cannot be Bribed, You reap what you sow.” ends