AFRICAN leaders have been commended for committing to international and regional conventions to uphold sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) although much needs to be done regarding coherent service provision policies between Health and Education ministries.
By Kuda Pembere in Zambia
This was said by Zambian SRHR expert Mr Lester Phiri recently in an interview with journalists during a Values Clarification and Attitude Clarification (VCAT) training of journalists in Zambia. The training was organized by HIVOS.
“So the very fact that our governments have made these commitments towards improving the reproductive health outcomes of the people, for example, the Eastern and Southern Africa ministerial commitments from the ministry of health and education.
“To us that is progress already because it sets the tone for us to us to actually domesticate some of these commitments into our policies, laws and guidelines on how we can help young people make health decisions and avoid unplanned pregnancies and ultimately we will be able to learn that pregnancy does not end there for some but some are compelled to make unsafe abortions because they want to get rid of the pregnancies they are not really prepared to look after,” Mr Phiri said.
Mr Phiri noted that African countries which are signatories to these International conventions guaranteeing SRHR have discordant policies in terms of providing services such as information for adolescents and young children.
“We need to meet each other half-way if we have to resolve the issues. Of course, the upbringing of young people and the process of human development requires a multisectoral approach.
“In this case, we believe it takes a village to raise a child. So each ministry can make responsible decisions on how they think they can help this young person.
“Where they are unable to help, for example our Ministries commonly in our countries are the Ministries of Education and Health don’t tend to agree on provision of services,” he said.
He said linkages are important for easy access to SRH services.
“But also we know that they also provide different services to young people from their mandate. So the Ministry of Education is mandated to provide services in a school setting.
“They might not be competent enough to provide the actual reproductive health services. But on the other hand, the ministry of health is able and mandated to provide these services.
“So we need now the linkages between the ministry where one ministry ends to look after the adolescent and young person. Another ministry takes it over.
“Because they provide different services to these young people which are beneficial to the young people.
“We just need to collaborate and not force one another to stray out of our mandate but we need to find a way to strengthen these linkages and connect the young people to information and provision of services,” the Zambian SRHR expert said.
