Scholars develop app on sexuality

To tackle issues on youth sexuality in campus, a group of students at the University of Nairobi have developed an application. Rada, developed in collaboration with UNESCO seeks to provide the youth with information and real time help on wide ranging issues including sexual health; HIV and AIDS; career; finance; alcohol and drug abuse and mental health.

Interestingly, none of the 16 students who took part in developing the app are studying computer science or any ICT affiliated courses. The app will be launched next week during the Nairobi Innovation Week.

“Issues at the core of life have been addressed in this app,” said Prof Walter Jaoko, Deputy Director of Kenya Aids Vaccine Initiative (KAVI) who also headed the initiative to develop the app.

Some of the students that took part in development of the app include Risper Gichuki (economics), Victoria Wairimu (counselling psychology), Kelvin Kinuthia (construction management), Joseph Kingori (political science) and Musa Ibrahim (microbiology).

The students said in developing the app they were alive to the fact that students at the university find themselves in a unique position – barely out of childhood, yet thrust into adulthood with lots of freedom which could throw them off balance.

“Students grapple with issues like pregnancy, violence, insecurity and HIV which they at times have no idea how to deal with; this is where this app comes in handy to bridge that information gap,” said Ibrahim. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the app is that students with problems are able to get real time counsellors to help them and offer referrals where necessary, in real time.

Ibrahim said, “The app will only be accessible to students of this university because we are linked to the Health Department of the university, which is not accessible to non-students.”

But Jaoko said they will work with other institutions of higher learning to have similar apps unique to the particular institutions.

“In developing the app, there was no assumption that these are university students so we desired that it has the simplest of information about the issues being tackled,” said Prof Jaoko.

Ibrahim, however, said that it will not only be information only but also entertainment as those who log in will be able to chat away their issues. A multimedia component is included in the app with links to YouTube.

Speaking on the achievement, Prof Julius Ogeng’o, deputy vice chancellor academics said the app sets in place a platform for global interaction being that it is accessible anytime, anywhere.

“This seeks to address topical issues affecting students, including their academic performance,” said Ogeng’o.