04 Jul 2024

Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) is offering a safe haven where the privacy of patients is a guarded treasured secret, BOFWA service delivery manager, Ms Amogelang Monnatlhare has said.

Speaking on the side-lines of a five-day youth orientation and training programme workshop for Help Line recruit officers in Francistown recently, Ms Monnatlhare said BOFWA’s staff were seen as beacons of confidentiality, a welcoming hand to hold in the darkness of uncertainty.

She said in the eyes of the rural communities, BOFWA staff were not mere healthcare providers, but stalwarts of confidentiality, entrusted with the heavy burden of HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment.

She said it was against this backdrop that BOFWA staff were also welcomed in rural communities where services were not easily accessible.

“To those belonging to marginalised groups, the fear of disclosure and discrimination is all too real, a potent deterrent to seeking care,” she said. Ms Monnatlhare further said though there were local clinics in such rural communities, residents tend to prefer their services than those from locals.

She said BOFWA carried outreach programmes such as HIV/AIDS testing, counselling and referrals to rural communities. She said they have five centres across the country offering various services. The centres are in Gaborone (headquarters), Mochudi, Francistown, Kasane and Maun.

She appealed to young people to utilise the youth Helpline, #16658 and end the stigma and fear.

 “Their health is worth more than silence. Pick up the phone, we are here to listen, to advice and to support,” she said noting that the helpline was free and accessible from any network.

Ms Monnatlhare said the orientation and training encompassed a comprehensive overview of BOFWA’s goals among them in-depth sessions on integrated sexual and reproductive health, hands on practice in handling calls, as well as managing emergencies and mental health issues.

She added that participants were dedicated professionals, having previously worked as social workers, armed with a compassionate heart and wealth of expertise in this field of integrated sexual and reproductive health and rights.

“They will from the backbone of BOFWA’s youth helpline, serving as digital guardian angel for adolescents and young people in need of advice, guidance, or simply a sympathetic ear,” she added.

Key objectives of the workshop included ensuring that officers understands BOFWA’s strategic priorities, and policies, tools and management processes and enhancing their communication and counselling skills., while preparing them to offer emphatic, accurate, and timely support to callers.

The programme also emphasised the importance of confidentiality, cultural sensitivity, and continuous improvement through feedback and monitoring. At the end of the training, the call centre officers are expected to confidently deliver high-quality integrated sexual and reproductive health and rights services and aiding adolescents make informed sexual and reproductive decisions. Ends