TWO local organisations have joined forces to address the hidden dangers facing university students, including sexual health challenges, drug abuse and mental health pressures.

The Babawatoto Organisation, in partnership with World Vision Tanzania, has expanded Accelerated Hope and Development for Adolescents in Tanzania (AHADI) Project, a multi-year initiative designed to support sexual and reproductive health, rights, and wellbeing of marginalised adolescents aged 10-19.

The project comes in response to rising cases of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, drug abuse, and, in some instances, suicide among young people.

The risks are particularly high for students who start higher education at a young age, often from 16 years old. Many arrive at university with high academic ambitions but encounter environments that expose them to unsafe behaviours and unhealthy lifestyles.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam late last week, Rajabu Makame, Economic Empowerment Project Coordinator at the Babawatoto Organisation, said the project is currently being implemented in 18 wards-10 in llala Municipality and eight in Ubungo. Initially, AHADI targeted out-of-school youth and students aged 10 to 14 from 34 primary and secondary schools.

Makame explained that an evaluation revealed that many students aged 16 and above lack crucial knowledge on reproductive health and social well-being.

"Many young people moving to major cities such as Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mwanza, and Mbeya, when unable to meet expectations, engage in riskyMwanza, and Mbeya, when unable to meet expectations, engage in risky behaviours such as theft, prostitution, and drug use," he said.

The programme, which began on 27 January, currently targets 458 students selected as peer educators. They receive training from Ministry of Health experts on mental health, nutrition, family planning, sexually transmitted infections, drug use, and sexual and online violence.

To maximise impact, peer educators were selected from eight colleges, including the University of Dar es Salaam, St Joseph College, the Institute of Finance Management, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, College of Business Education, Kampala International University, and the National Institute of Transport.

Lucy Steven, a student at St. Joseph College, said: "The knowledge gained will help us become ambassadors for mental health, reproductive health, nutrition, and the fight against sexual abuse." Salehe Mkange, a student at the Institute of Finance Management, added that the training will help him guide peers on early pregnancies and other challenges, enabling them to focus on achieving their educational ambitions.