Health Education on Tanna Island - Save Blong Yu

This project is about supporting local midwives on Tanna Island, Vanuatu who deal with an alarming teenage pregnancy problem and the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, malnutrition, and infant death. The heart of the problem is a lack of awareness and knowledge by the 20,000 inhabitants of the Island. Besides assisting with child birth, the two midwives have set about an education and information sharing learning opportunity for local schools and families; it is this role that has attracted Rotary's attention and initial support.

 

The health education programme programme focuses on self esteem, family values, puberty and sexual health. Educating young men and women, boys and girls, aged 10-18, in health issues allows them to have greater control on their own health. These children and teenagers need to better understand the need for basic health and hygiene, their own physical and personal development, reproductive health, the dangers of unprotected and early sexual activity and the importance of family spacing. All of these issues have a huge im-pact on the young people growing up in the islands of Vanuatu. Teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) and HIV/Aids are increasing at an alarming rate. Babies are often born to mothers with STI’s and they can incur eye infections, blind-ness, deafness or permanent brain damage.

 

Save Blong Yu commenced in 2012 and costs $6,000 each year to deliver. Sadly, in 2015 our club found it was unable to continue support.