Two years of striving for reproductive justice: The mmoho Sexual and Reproductive Health Helpline Celebrates Two Year Anniversary

This blog was authored by Sesona Buyeye, Communications Coordinator at Ibis Reproductive Health

This week, on World AIDS Day (commemorated each year on December 1), mmoho marked the two-year anniversary of its Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Helpline. The Helpline, which launched on World AIDS Day in 2023, has proven to be a much-needed lifeline for many young South Africans who lack access to evidence-based, stigma-free, and safe SRH services and information.

As we commemorate the Helpline’s second anniversary, we reflect on a journey that has been both challenging and rewarding.

The Helpline was conceived from Ibis Reproductive Health research findings that we could not ignore. Starting in 2022, Ibis researchers surveyed 236 girls aged 12 to 17 in Gauteng, South Africa, to assess their access to and experience with SRH services, including abortion care. Respondents shared that one of the contributing factors to unplanned pregnancy (common in their communities) included inconsistent contraceptive use due to the limited knowledge of functioning and accessibility of contraceptives. Respondents also shared that they had limited knowledge of some provisions of the Choice of Terminations of Pregnancy Act (CTOP Act). Many held the misconception that partner or parental consent is required to access a safe abortion in the formal sector, when in fact the CTOP Act permits girls from the age of 12 to consent to abortion in South Africa.

Alongside the study’s findings was the striking fact that the mmoho Facebook page received a surge of direct messages from young people seeking SRH services during the COVID-19 lockdown. Both the study and these messages showed that young people in South Africa continue to face unmet SRH needs due to persistent barriers, including limited information, community stigma, and fear of judgment from health-care providers. Although the COVID-19 pandemic did not create these barriers, it certainly intensified them. The strict measures enforced during the first wave of lockdowns made it more difficult for young people to access services, some of which persisted even after all COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted.

Building on this knowledge, our team identified the urgent need for reliable, accurate, and stigma-free SRH information and services for young people to help address these barriers, using the Helpline as a viable intervention. After launching on 1 December 2023, the Helpline provided referral services to the following SRH services:

• GBV and Sexual Abuse Services

• Men’s Reproductive Health Services

• Safe and Legal Abortion Services

• Pregnancy and Contraceptives

• LGBTQI+ Services

• HIV and STIs Services

• Mental Health Support

In August 2024, we launched professional primary counselling services to support young people with their mental health. This service has supported many young people with post-traumatic relief and referrals to specialised mental health support groups.

For many of our callers, the Helpline has been a lifeline, bridging the information gap that existed for many young people who do not know their reproductive rights under South African law, and cannot access the SRH care that they need.

Critically, the mmoho SRH Helpline is one of the few helplines in South Africa that openly provide referrals for first and second trimester abortions. At a time when abortion is heavily stigmatised, the mmoho SRH Helpline is unapologetically committed to advancing access to abortion care. Where barriers to access exist due to service denial and stigma (especially for young people), the Helpline, along with its referral partners, works to ensure access to safe, high-quality, and non-judgemental SRH services.

Our team has witnessed firsthand the power of creating safe spaces for young people to exercise their rights to access health care in South Africa.

Read the full article on Medium

If you’d like to donate to sustain the Helpline, please click here.