Currently all 26 universities and their campuses have campus clinics where nurses provide primary healthcare services. At TVETs, HIGHER HEALTH has facilitated the establishment of 80 clinics where the frequency of services ranges from daily to monthly. At large campuses, full-time facilities are ideal, while part-time clinics, run at least once a fortnight from mobile units or suitable rooms, work at smaller campuses.
The package of health and social services should be standard and developed over time to include:
Provision of biomedical prevention products: ARVs for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) of HIV and referral for medical male circumcision. Sexual and reproductive health services: contraceptives including emergency contraception, STI treatment, referral for termination of pregnancy or antenatal care, cancer screenings.Treatment: ART initiation and maintenance, and treatment for TB, diabetes and hypertension.Mental health services: general counselling and referral for specialist care.
The essence of the services is that they are convenient, relevant and youth-friendly.
HIGHER HEALTH facilitates the provision of these services in different ways.
Where institutions have campus clinics with staff, HIGHER HEALTH drives public sector partnerships for the supply of diagnostics, medicines, contraceptives and other consumables. It also offers training for nursing personnel to expand their competencies – for example, in terms of initiating ART, providing contraception and primary mental health services. Where institutions do not have clinic services, HIGHER HEALTH facilitates partnerships with provincial health departments and district health offices to establish clinics offering this package of youth-friendly services on campuses.
