Adequate Sexual Reproductive health information will help CSOs to achieve targets

By Elias Hakizimana.

Lack of enough information about Sexual Reproductive Health Rights could mislead health activists working with local Civil Society Organizations (CSOS) in the sector of health promotion.

Dr Anicet Nzabonimpa, an expert in Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) said that adequate information to Rwanda’s CSOs about sexual and reproductive health services and how these are delivered within the Rwandan context will help them to better help the community they serve.

Nzabonimpa was speaking to the media amid the three-day training of SRHR-focused CSOs on strengthening their network to build a strong voice on October 8, 2020 in Kigali.

He reminded them that they have a big role to play in educating Rwandans with the emphasis on adolescents and youth that Sexual Reproductive Health Rights are not limited to mature and married couples.

“We know that Children who are staying at home due to Covid-19 pandemic are exposed to early pregnancies and many of young adolescent girls could not return to school after being pregnant. SRHR-Focused SCOs should note that Family planning as one of the elements of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights is not a limited service to only married couples, but also adolescents need it.” He said.

Trained members of CSOs were given a package of knowledge about the rights of a woman and a child to be catered for during 1000 days from the beginning of the pregnancy until when the new born is two years old.

Trainees speak out

Evode Niyibizi, Deputy President of African Youth and Adolescent Network-on population and development (AfriYAN) said that the required training on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights is vital to youth serving organizations especially in preventing early pregnancies.

He noted that the government, civil societies and concerned entities should stand up to give out comprehensive sexual health education to Rwandan children because the culture remains a constraint in most of Rwandans.

He also noted that there is another challenge in schools where teachers of Sexual Reproductive Health teach this lessons while themselves were not given this knowledge at their early age.

Rose Mutesi, Founder and Chair of Young Women Mentors Network (YWMNet) said that the reason for most of the parents who fear to tell their children about Sexual Reproductive Health is that they did not find someone to teach them this in their childhoods.

“Even to date, parents still fear to give sexual health education to their children, if they failed to do so, they should outsource an expert from their neighborhoods who can dedicate a time like once in a week to teach children about SRHR.” She said.

The three-day training which was organized by Ihorere Munyarwanda Organization (IMRO) started on October 7, 2020 is set to be concluded today on October 9, 2020.