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Description
In 2019, teens, 15 to 34, represented 50% of the new HIV cases registered in Romania. In 2018, there were 17.981 births among teen moms of ages between 15 and 19, and 6 out of 10 underaged moms from rural areas never had access to reproductive health education. 82% of the rural teens rarely or never discuss with their parents about their sex life debut, and sexual and reproductive health education is optional in the educational system. The poverty rate for teens, 0-17 years old, was, in 2018, 32%, situation which led to a limited access of teens, especially the ones from rural poor communities, to contraceptives and family planning services. Romania doesn’t have a sexual and reproductive health national strategy, a national condom distribution program for teens at risk and there aren’t enough family planning offices. Also, there isn’t a HIV testing Mobile App to include all relevant data related to the HIV testing available hospitals/clinics, HIV tests being the only way for identifying the infection.
The project “Services for youth from Norway in Romania-PILOT”, implemented by Semper Musica Association in partnership with FASMR-The Federation of all Medical Students Organizations in Romania and Sex&Society Norway, aims to offer access to a PILOT programme, after a Norwegian model, consisting of reproductive health education and services, free condoms distribution and the first HIV testing Mobile App in Romania. The beneficiaries are youth of 15 to 35 years from 24 rural underserved areas in 11 counties. 23.750 beneficiaries will have access to the programme, and 1.513 teens will be consulted regarding the access to reproductive health, HIV testing and contraceptives. Also, 950 pilot reproductive health education sessions will be delivered and 44 meetings with the local authorities in the 11 counties will be organized for promoting the project results. The Norwegian partner will share the know-how regarding the condoms distribution programme.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the problem of limited access to medical information in certain communities, with the main goal of facilitating access to education to help beneficiaries lead healthier lives.
During the project, which ran from March 2021 to February 2024, all set indicators were achieved. Among the accomplishments was the development of Romania’s first web-based HIV testing application, featuring 467 testing centers across 11 counties. The initiative was promoted through an effective online campaign, generating a reach of 326,001 on Facebook and through 66 outdoor billboards. The importance of the project was also highlighted through the organization of two press conferences, resulting in 21 appearances in the national press and three interviews on recognized television channels. In addition, 147 articles were published on the Facebook page, achieving a total reach of 24,135. The project’s promotion was further reinforced by the involvement of two celebrities popular amoung youth, who promoted the HIV testing web application. Also, 44 local meetings, four in each of the 11 target counties were held with representatives of the Local City Hall of each county capital, the County School Inspectorate, the Public Health Directorate, as well as local NGOs active in the fields of youth, health and volunteering. The purpose of the meetings was to present the results of the youth consultation in the 24 marginalized communities targeted by the project and to highlight the achievements of the PILOT programme of reproductive health education and free condom distribution. The project concluded with Activity 5, which informed 30,726 young people, aged 15-35, about sexual and reproductive health. Of these, 9,320 were from rural areas. In total, 120,473 condoms were distributed and 1,012 sexual education sessions were held in 78 high schools across the 11 counties, in collaboration with the Public Health Directorates of Sibiu and Galați. A strategic plan for the Project Promoter was set for a period of three years.
Annually, young people aged 15 to 34 account for 50% of all new HIV cases in Romania, and through the education sessions, the project aimed to reduce these figures by providing the necessary knowledge to prevent the spread of HIV. Ultimately, the impact of the project was considerable, reflected in the increased access to information for the beneficiaries, who now have the resources needed to make healthy choices in their daily lives. Additionally, they also benefit from continuous access to the HIV testing platform. The strategic planning process resulted in a 3-year strategic plan and benefited annually from the implementation of an operational plan.
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership with the Norwegian organization Sex og Samfunn played a crucial role in the implementation of the project. The collaboration started with a know-how exchange. A key moment was the organization of a visit to Oslo for five team members from Romania to collect information about the Norwegian national condom distribution programme. Sex og Samfunn representatives were also actively involved in the strategic planning process of the Semper Musica Association, contributing to the development of the methodology for the free distribution of 120 473 condoms in the 11 counties of Romania. The developed methodology, inspired by the Norwegian model, included innovative methods of condom distribution, adapted to the context and needs of the targeted communities. Despite the official end of Sex og Samfunn''s involvement by the end of 2022, collaboration and support continued until the project was finalized. The organization remained a pillar of support, providing the necessary assistance to address the challenges, coordinating the team of clinicians and communicating with the high schools, thus demonstrating the value of the bilateral partnership. This collaboration underlined the importance of sharing international experience and adapting methods and practices to the local context, contributing significantly to improving access to education for young people in Romania.