Adolescents

Kganya Motsha

Kganya Motsha (“Shine Young Ones” in SeSotho) is an innovative and encouraging PHRU initiative developed in response to findings from a survey conducted in 2007 that highlighted concerns and gaps related to adolescent’s health needs. A dedicated adolescent clinic with a friendly and welcoming staff opened in Kliptown, Soweto in January 2008 and provides prevention and treatment services to adolescents aged between 14 and 19 years. The clinic environment is safe and non-judgmental, staffed with people who recognize the special needs of adolescents transitioning from childhood to adulthood.

Kganya Motsha offers its services at the centre and in surrounding schools using individual, group and community approach in an attempt to help build skills of the adolescents. The program has established its presence in the community and has become widely known for its supportive services.  Kganya Motsha attracts many clients who walk into the clinic from the streets. Effective partnerships have been formed in schools around the Soweto area including NGOs, Government, Health, Welfare, Education and Security Departments.

Psychosocial support is a vital part of the Kganya Motsha program. The program has identified and trained adolescents from schools as peer educators to improve information dissemination to young scholars. Kganya Motsha has strengthened communication with media services, such as Jozi FM, to broadcast the clinic services in Soweto, and with religious and faith based organizations to encourage teenagers and parents to visit the centre. The program is working together with HIVSA to facilitate training programs as well as referrals for VCT, care and treatment services.

PHRU has often recognized that adolescents are often excluded on crucial clinical trials including HIV vaccine development studies. It was also realized that there is a great need to develop health care services that will be informed by research taking into considerations:

• Cultural background
• Socioeconomic issues
• Structural issues
• Individual and societal needs
• Physical and psychological development

Comprehensive HIV management offered to 14 to 19 year old male and females includes:

• Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT)
• STI education, prevention and treatment
• HIV education, prevention and treatment
• Psychosocial evaluation and counselling
• Reproductive health services
• Supportive care
• Peer mentoring

Kganya Motsha Presentations

Kganya Motsha has been involved in various workshops at Kganya Motsha:

• South African Police Services (SAPS) - 20 February 2009 (Information coming soon)
• Khaya FM - 2 February 2009 (Information coming soon)
• Khaya FM - 7 April 2009 (Information coming soon)
• Youth Day (Information coming soon)
• Community involvement and participation 27 March 2008
• Perceptions & Facts about Adolescent Sexual Behaviour: Findings from Soweto 25 February
• Adolescent Workshop,Rosebank, Johannesburg-  25 February 2009
• Adolescent sexual and reproductive health- 25 February 2009