Towards reduction of young people’s vulnerability to HIV and STIs: Lessons from Cape Coast, Ghana

Quality education and sexual and reproductive health services are key to reducing the vulnerability of HIV and STI especially among young people. While the former enhances the knowledge capacity to develop the ‘power within’ to facilitate safer sex practices and reduce misconceptions and stigma, the latter provides hope via access to treatment. While external support is critical, local partnerships and development of innovative structures and arrangements are imperative. In Cape Coast, the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast have partnered in this direction. Using various methodologies such as action-based teaching, peer education and mobile clinic, students’ knowledge about and access to HIV and STIs services have improved. These have contributed to students’ willingness to know their HIV status and seek treatment directly or through a referral system. The sustainability of such a partnership is essential.