Nursing Students Promote Family Planning Awareness in Old Naledi
Level 300 students from the University of Botswana (UB) School of Nursing pursuing Bachelor of Nursing Science, recently conducted a community outreach campaign in Old Naledi aimed at raising awareness about family planning and contraceptive use.
The initiative was carried out in collaboration with the Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) and the District Health Management Team (DHMT) and sought to educate members of the Old Naledi community on the importance of planned parenthood and reproductive health.
Speaking during the campaign, Old Naledi Clinic Chief Registered Nurse, Mrs Tshepo Engleton, emphasised the importance of family planning education in promoting healthier communities. She noted that initiatives such as this played a critical role in reducing the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and preventing unplanned pregnancies.
“The initiative and donation of birth control essentials come at a critical time in Botswana’s healthcare system,” she said. Mrs Engleton encouraged community members to take advantage of the services and information provided, highlighting that access to family planning services helped individuals and families make informed reproductive health decisions.
UB School of Nursing student, Mr Ndakwase Clarkson, shared insights from the students’ community engagement exercise, noting that the outreach was informed by their observations within the community.
“Our engagement revealed limited access to birth control resources and a lack of information on planned parenthood within the community. This prompted us to focus our campaign on improving awareness and working closely with BOFWA to provide relevant support and education,” he explained.
BOFWA Nurse and Midwife, Ms Amogelang Monnatlhare, also addressed community members on the safe use of various birth control methods. She explained that some contraceptive methods such as implants, may lead to changes in the reproductive cycle and advised that individuals experiencing unusual symptoms should seek medical attention.
Ms Monnatlhare encouraged community members to follow professional medical guidance when using contraceptives to ensure their safe and effective use.
The outreach programme formed part of the students’ community engagement component which allows nursing students to apply their academic training while contributing to public health awareness in surrounding communities