SCA X KATWIG FOUNDATION
Introduction
In March, 2022, She Code Africa sponsored Katwig Kare Foundation, on their free STI test to 100 ladies within Lagos, Nigeria.
The tests which was carried out between 24th April to 14th may 2022, were for the following STIs :
- Chlamydia
- Hepatitis B
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis
- HVS
As one of the perks of the sponsorship, 25 SCA members (out of the over 60 ladies who applied) were initially selected to participate in the free exercise, after which, another 5 slots were allotted for SCA, totalling 30 ladies who got a slot for the test.
Location distribution
The free STIs tests were carried out in Lagos, Nigeria, and were only open to ladies who live in the aforementioned city. The image below shows the areas in Lagos where the tests were carried out.
Feedback from Beneficiaries
Out of the 30 ladies selected, 25 showed up for the test, at the physical test locations and have received their results.
Here are some feedback we gathered from them:
Impacts, Lessons Learned & Next Steps
The free STI tests came as a shock to a lot of people, but at the same time, strengthened the fact that SCA as an organisation, do not cater for only the needs of their members career-wise, but all-round, as can be seen in the various non-tech initiatives we support from time to time. For this project, some lessons stood out for us
- Timing: Although this can’t be entirely put on any party, we didn’t have a reasonable timeframe to carry out the announcement and selection process, although it was done nevertheless. In future, ample time should be given to deliberate on strategies for implementing such initiatives.
- Stakeholder involvement: Since this initiative leans heavily on community, a community manager needs to be present in subsequent discussions for such initiatives, at least to be part of the conversation from bottom-up. This would help to avoid last minute loopholes, such as the phone numbers which were required by the Katwig foundation but never got specified in time.
- We’ll be looking forward to a report from Katwig Kare foundation on the overall success of the initiative.
- Based on the feedback received from participants, , this initiative was worth it, and it would be welcomed if SCA partners in future initiatives like this.
