Op-Ed by Veronicca Molefe, Shout-It-Now District Manager and 2nd Deputy Chair on SANAC’s Health Professionals Civil Society Forum

Johannesburg, 19 November 2024 – “Hi, my name is Veronicca Ndhlovu. I am 17 and a Grade 11 student. I have a tight group of girls, and we share all kinds of advice on life, love and our dreams. One of the girls is pregnant; she still comes to school. She didn’t use a condom, or she didn’t have the contraceptive pill. I’m not sure—we didn’t get into all the details. In life orientation, they said that knowing your HIV status is important. I don’t want to get HIV. I am not having sex, but all my friends are, and I kind of feel left out. I wanted to prepare myself when my moment comes, so I went to the clinic a street away from my home to ask for options to prevent getting HIV and, mostly, not get pregnant when the time comes, and I am ready. I just needed information and was so proud of myself—you’ve got this, Vero, I thought.”

Well, not what I expected.

The nurse asked me invasive, personal questions. “Why do you want those things? Are you sleeping around? Children like you should be in school, not here looking for things that don't concern you.” I felt judged, ashamed and unwelcome. I am not even doing these things the nurse accused me of—how are my friends who do need these options managing? I left with nothing. Thank goodness my mum got involved and found a new clinic that was willing to help me. I just needed information!

That was 10 years ago.

This is still the reality for many young people today.

Hi, my name is Veronicca, now, Molefe. I am 28 and lead a team of youthful professionals who provide sexual and reproductive health services to adolescent girls and young women with Shout-It-Now. I was also recently appointed 2nd deputy chairperson on SANAC’s Health Professionals Civil Society Forum. In these two roles, I support, advocate for and develop policies and programmes that address the unique challenges faced by young people in accessing sexual reproductive health (SRH) services in a non-judgemental and relatable environment, particularly preventative services that relate to unwanted pregnancy, HIV and abuse.

The tragedy is that teenage girls in South Africa, and more particularly, girls growing up in impoverished circumstances, are at high risk of becoming pregnant and of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Young males too are at risk, but not to the same extent.

South Africa has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the world. It was estimated that in the 2022/2023 financial year, 150,000 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 fell pregnant—which means that at least 150,000 girls had unprotected sex. These young bodies are not even developed enough to carry a baby.

There are free services like the HIV prevention pill, contraception, and social services to discuss abuse, specifically for the youth. Why are they not taking up these services? The harsh reality is often simply a result of girls wanting access but being met with judgement, scrutiny and shame when seeking these services.

Youth-Friendly Spaces Are Essential

Youth-friendly spaces have become an urgent necessity, as well as service providers who understand the lifestyles and struggles of the youth and can serve without judgement.

Shout-It-Now recruits staff from the communities they serve, with more than 75% of staff being under the age of 35. We provide various sexual and reproductive information programmes and biomedical services, so regardless of a client’s lifestyle—whether they have made their sexual debut, are planning it, abstaining, or have no choice due to abusive circumstances—our nurses, social workers and healthcare providers serve them without judgement. Our peer ambassadors who have been through our programmes and services welcome our clients to our mobile clinics. Every day, we purposefully create a space for open conversations. Clients have a choice of digital access to information, whether through our Connect Hub (call centre) or social media platforms, maintaining a consistent, supportive tone from digital to in-person consultations.

Implementing SANAC’s National Strategic Plan

SANAC’s National Strategic Plan 2023-2028 aims to reduce barriers to accessing health and social services and promotes an urgent focus on reducing inequalities for all people living with HIV, TB, and STIs who are not benefiting from treatment and care services.

The SANAC agenda includes developing and delivering programmes and policies that are relevant and implementable on a wide scale within South Africa. To achieve SANAC’s plan, widespread prevention and treatment services and facilities that are accessible and youth-friendly must be provided. Employing young health professionals who understand youth lifestyles and can provide non-judgemental, comprehensive information, support and services is crucial.

This vision will only be realised through a collective effort from national, provincial and local government, relevant NGOs, other health sector organisations, and the public. We need to acknowledge the realities revealed by the statistics and address stigma and outdated gender norms. It’s time to start having open conversations about sex and relationships to truly serve the youth.

Empowering Young People to Protect Their Health

My goal is to ensure that young people recognise their health as their most valuable asset. They must make every effort to safeguard it, accessing services and seeking help, staying informed, asking questions, and boldly reaching out for support. They have a right to know that their voices matter. Together with the youth, we can shape health services that serve the entire country and create healthy futures for all young people.

Having been the 17-year-old girl who was failed by the public health sector 10 years ago, it is now my privilege and core focus to be the change advocate and support that today's youth deserve.

SANAC – South African National AIDS Council brings together government, civil society and the private sector to create a collective response to HIV, TB, and STIs in South Africa.

---

About Veronicca Molefe

Veronicca Molefe is a dynamic leader with a strong commitment to community development and youth empowerment. Currently serving as District Manager at Shout-It-Now, she leads a team dedicated to providing sexual and reproductive health services to adolescent girls and young women, aligning with national and donor-driven strategies like the DREAMS programme. Veronicca also serves as the 2nd Deputy Chairperson of SANAC’s Health Professionals Civil Society Forum, furthering her commitment to fostering accountability and driving the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP).

Her educational journey includes a National Diploma in Public Relations from UNISA, advanced certifications in project management and clinical practices, and ongoing studies in International Relations. Veronicca’s professional experience spans roles such as Provincial Coordinator at Zakheni Training and Development and Partnerships Coordinator at Shout-It-Now, where she has demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy. Veronicca continues to make impactful contributions to public health, youth development, and community resilience.

About Shout-It-Now

Shout-It-Now offers a range of health services and support, currently focused on sexual and reproductive health as well as support for survivors of gender-based violence, through various channels, including mobile clinics and virtual engagement platforms. We take a client-centred, youth-focused approach to ensure youth are heard, engaged and represented throughout our work. Importantly, our services are informed by innovative social and behaviour change approaches to effectively engage youth and their gatekeepers to create demand for our health and well-being services.

Complementing our direct service delivery, we connect youth via referrals and linkages to a network of other health and well-being partners for services including behavioural and life skills programmes. Our custom-designed technology enables Shout-It-Now to effectively use real-time data to generate insights and inform our programme design, including youth engagement, communications and service delivery strategies, and to give youth easy access to programmes offered by our ecosystem partners.

Press Release Submitted By

Mantis Communications
Kerry Simpson
Tel: 079 438 3252
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Total Words: 1,303

---

Social Media Post

Shout-It-Now - For the Youth By the Youth
Empowering youth with judgement-free access to sexual and reproductive health services. #ShoutItNow #YouthHealth #SANAC #YouthEmpowerment #pressrelease #AfricaNewsroom #bizcommunity #publicrelations #africa #southernafrica #southafrica