From hesitation to confidence: How girls at Dayib Guray Secondary School embraced better health
By engaging parents, teachers and health workers, the Power4Girls initiative is helping adolescent girls make informed decisions about their health, one conversation at a time.
When iron and folic acid supplements were first introduced at Dayib Guray Secondary School in Hargeisa, Salma was unsure.
Like many of her classmates, she had never taken the supplements before. As boxes of tablets arrived through the Power4Girls initiative, implemented by Women's Action Advocacy Progress Organisation (WAAPO) in partnership with UNICEF, questions spread quickly through the classroom.
“Why do we need them? Are they safe?”
For the girls, the hesitation was natural. They wanted to understand what they were being asked to take before making that decision.
Recognizing that trust begins with information, UNICEF, WAAPO and the Ministry of Health worked closely with the school and parents before the supplements were distributed. Meetings with parent committees gave families the opportunity to ask questions and learn how iron and folic acid supplementation supports adolescent girls' nutrition, growth and well-being.
The conversations continued in the classroom, where nutrition specialists and health workers encouraged the girls to ask questions and openly discuss their concerns. As Salma learned more, her uncertainty gradually gave way to confidence.
“After a few weeks of taking the supplements, I started to notice a real change in my mornings. I felt more active, my focus in class improved, and it even helped restore my appetite,” she says.
The change wasn't limited to the students.
One teacher at Dayib Guray Secondary School admits that she also had questions when the programme began.
“At first, I wondered why these supplements were only being given to the girls. But after the awareness sessions with the Ministry of Health and seeing the positive feedback from the students, I felt completely reassured. I am so happy that our girls are finally receiving dedicated support like this.”
One day, several girls returned to school excited to share what they had discovered after doing their own research. “We searched about Iron and Folic Acid (IFA). Now we understand what it does, and we feel comfortable taking it.” Their curiosity marked an important turning point. By seeking reliable information, they replaced uncertainty with understanding and became more confident in making decisions about their own health.
Soon, those who had once been hesitant began encouraging their classmates to take the supplements as well. What started with questions evolved into peer support, creating an environment where knowledge replaced fear and confidence spread from one student to another.
By the end of the distribution cycle, iron and folic acid supplementation had been successfully completed at Dayib Guray Secondary School with strong support from students, teachers, parents and the wider school community.
The experience showed that improving adolescent nutrition is about more than providing essential supplements. It also requires listening to young people, addressing their concerns and ensuring they have the information they need to make informed choices about their health.
As the Power4Girls initiative expands to more schools and communities across Somaliland, more adolescent girls are gaining not only better nutrition, but also the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health and their future.
