CRH Seeks Promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

Chioma Obinna & Gabriel Olawale
SEXUAL and reproductive health and rights must be promoted in Nigeria if the incidence of maternal death from childbirth is to be controlled. Experts who called for promotion of these issues say ensuring access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services for women, especially young women, would effectively address the prevailing reproductive health challenges.

At a three - day training workshop organised for Civil Society Groups and the media by the Centre for the Right To Health, CRH, government at all levels was charged to prioritise issues regarding sexual reproductive health and rights as part of strategies to reduce maternal mortality as well as cut down HIV infection rates.

Speaking to Good Health Weekly, the Project Director, Mr Bede Eziefule, regretted that despite the progress at the international arena, the realisation of sexual and reproductive rights has remained a great challenge in Nigeria.

"Over the years the health needs of women, particularly young women, women living with HIV& AIDS, widows and persons with disabilities have continued to be ignored or treated with levity in many African countries including Nigeria.

The result of this includes incessant loss of health in young women due to high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), poor access to contraception, unacceptable, but preventable, loss of lives due to pregnancy complications, violence and physical abuse and high HIV/AIDS prevalence. All these are not only debilitating for women and other marginalised groups but also the society at large."

Eziefule said: "In a society where people are knowledgeable about their rights, including their sexual and reproductive rights, there is a tendency that the dignity and human rights of others will be respected.

"The result will be a society where justice, equity, peace and harmony reign supreme. Knowledge on sexual and reproductive health issues has the potential to prevent unnecessary loss of lives, facilitate policy reforms and develop local capacity in this field.

He added that if sexual reproductive health education was promoted, the rate of rape, STIs, abortions, unwanted pregnancies and overpopulation in the country would drastically "Adequate awareness for sexual and reproductive health will go a long way in reducing STDs, abortions and overpopulation.

"The few youth centres available are not friendly to the youths when they come in for information and advice thereby making it less appealing for them to want to go there".

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