NINETEEN young people are being training to market, promote and distribute condoms in local communities.

The training comes under Marie Stopes International Pacific (MSIP), in partnership with the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood (SIPPA).

It was facilitated by Marie Stopes' team and stakeholders.

The youths were trained to become Community Based Distributors (CBD) for the Marie Stopes International Pacific (MSIP) in condom social marketing.

The training was geared towards developing the skills of those young people in developing sexual and reproductive health campaigns and behaviour change approaches for targeted young population groups.

MSIP Project Officer Gillian Oti said: “We want to try and work with young people and educate them about the risk of HIV and Sexual Transmitted Infections (STI).”

“Basically, this is geared towards informing and educating young people in the communities on safe sex methods and to establish condom social market in the society,” she said.

Ms Oti stated that 40 young people from 12 communities within Honiara have been identified to participate in the training.

“Nineteen of them were trained this week while 21 would undergo similar training next week.

“The training will equip them with the necessary skills and prepare them to become CBD in their respective areas,” Ms Oti added.

She said with the training, the participants are expected to understand and have basic knowledge about sexual reproductive health issues.

The training focuses on assisting the young people to identify the roles of CBDs and the CSM, its functions and why condoms are sold and the activities to be conducted in various communities when they become CBD.

Ms Oti said the initiative, which brings together youths from various local communities, is the first of its kind.

She said the task is to prepare the youths for the launching of the new condom with the brand name “Score”.

Issues raised in the training included teenage pregnancy, adolescence, STI and HIV, communication and behaviour changed and communication.

At the end of the workshop, trainers expect participants to understand the work of MSIP and CSM and have basic knowledge about sexual and reproductive health issues, skills in demonstrating condom use, identified risk behaviour and understanding the roles and responsibilities of CBDs.

Source: Solomon Star, 22 May 2009