Gender Activists Push For Reproductive Health Education

GENDER activists have called upon the government to come up with programmes that will strengthen education on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and scale up family planning uptake in the country.

They said that public awareness on SRHR will help families, especially from marginalised areas to understand various issues related to child spacing and enhance male partners’ involvement in family planning.

The activists were speaking during the parallel discussions at the ongoing Northern Zone Gender Festival at Kwasakwasa grounds in Same District, Kilimanjaro region organised by Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP).

They were discussing the topic titled

“Enhancing Community Services to Promote Sexual Reproductive Health Rights.”

One of the participants Mr Nestory Mhando, from the Dar es Salaam-based Aga Khan Foundation (AKDN), said education on family planning is crucial especially for male partners so that they can participate fully on issues related to sexual reproductive health rights.

He suggested the need for creating more room for people to understand sexual reproductive health rights, so that  families can be able to know all issues related to child spacing, something which has health benefits to women.

Lucy Odiwa, from Tanga-based organisation—Women Choice, suggested the need to extend education on sexual reproductive health rights to teenagers—boys and girls, who get into sexual relation at tender ages.

“Children at all levels need to be well informed on sexual reproductive health issues, so that they become good mothers and fathers in future, hence a better nation,”

she said, noting that education on safe menstruation is needed for schoolgirls, hence  improving girls education.

She said when girls and women have access to safe and affordable sanitary materials to manage their menstruation, they decrease the risk of infections.

“This can have significant effects on overall sexual and reproductive health, including reducing teen pregnancy, maternal outcomes, and fertility. Poor menstrual hygiene, however, can pose serious health risks, like reproductive and urinary tract infections which can result in future infertility and birth complications. Neglecting to wash hands after changing menstrual products can spread infections,”

she said.

Another participant, Joseph Safari urged parents to be close to their children and educate them on sexual reproductive health rights so that they can meet their desired dreams.

He also pointed out that abortion at family level has been increasing due to poor family planning uptake among couples.

Stesheni Ward Councillor, Eng Heriel Mjema suggested the need to create friendly health facilities to relieve pregnant women from trauma caused by lack of better services.

He said that there is a need to improve roads and transport vessels to and from health facilities.

On her part, Lilian Liundi, TGNP Executive Director suggested the need for improving people’s income to deter teenage pregnancies as most of those girls who are impregnated are from poor families.

“This challenge is not from the well-do families, so there is a need to improve families’ incomes and get rid of this unnecessary pregnancies which in turn ruins girls’ dreams,”

she said.

Ms Liundi  urged people especially women to get the interest-free loans provided by district, municipal and city councils which can help to transform their economic status, hence improve the sexual reproductive health in their localities.

Share And Comment Bellow On What You Think About This Post!!!