Justicia Shipena
A total of 476 pregnancy tests were conducted during a week-long outreach in the Kavango East region.
The outreach, held from 16 to 20 June 2025, was led by the #BeFree Cares Clinic in partnership with the ministry of health and social services.
According to organisers, several young women who accessed services were already mothers, with some as young as 16 years old.
The outreach targeted five communities, Kamutjonga, Andara, Shamangorwa, Korokoko, and Likwaterera, focusing on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), particularly family planning and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs).
“The outreach was prompted by the region’s alarming rates of teenage pregnancies and the limited availability of SRH services,” the clinic stated.
Throughout the campaign, 496 women accessed family planning services.
Of those, 76% chose Depo-Provera injections, with only 82 opting for contraceptive implants and 42 for contraceptive pills.
The preference for injections was linked to their lack of a recovery period, compared to other methods.
Outreach teams identified consistent challenges across multiple sites, including shortages of health workers and religious beliefs impacting access to SRH services.
These barriers continue to undermine young women’s health, education, and economic opportunities.
In addition to SRH services, the outreach included 183 HIV tests, all of which returned negative results.
Most clients reported being tested within the previous three months, indicating improved HIV awareness and prevention in the region.
Material support, including food, clothes, blankets, and toiletries, was also provided to a family caring for a malnourished child as part of broader social support efforts.
“This impactful outreach was made possible through the strong partnership between the #BeFree Cares Clinic and the Ministry of Health and Social Services,” the clinic said.
In total, 576 individuals accessed services during the outreach, with over 2,400 services delivered.
