In addressing sexual and reproductive issues, leave no man behind

By Ronald-Twinamasiko

The recent population census of 2014 carried out by UBOS indicated that the female sex slightly outnumber the male sex.

Yet in addressing issues on sexual and reproductive health and rights, emphasis has outwardly and wholesomely been focused to the female sex, while disregarding the men.

Copious circumstances around intimate partner violence, gender based violence, STI (including HIV/AIDs) prevalence, unplanned pregnancies and parenthood, the ever increasing infant and maternal mortality rates, have disproportionately and greatly victimized the livelihoods of the women.

Over-burdened with the weight of unfortunate happenings, women have gradually been deprived of their public space and consequentially become temporary beings.

To cast-out these tragedies, successful techniques to warrant that women enjoy from the benefits of social change have been untenable. This could be a plausible justification to the ever increasing incidence of the silently killing STIs, most notably HIV/AIDs; despite the fact that a lot of financing has been injected towards the desirable cause.

This painful and dangerous truth could take another way, another turn to avert the plight of victims only if men could be actively engaged. It is critical especially for Uganda’s situation that is predominantly patriarchal, with power and decision making processes in the realm of the men.

Right from the policy frameworks, down to comprehensive implementation, men incorporation in active sexual and reproductive health and rights issues can guarantee better sexual health for a country boosting with one of the world’s youngest population.

Showing the men and the boys that they too, are responsible in a way, can avert the negative progress in child marriages, unplanned pregnancies and parenthood, unsafe abortions, obstetric fistula, pregnancy related deaths let alone infant and maternal mortality.

Just as it has always been imperative to empower women, so it is for the male, for better–respectful relationships, making men more supportive fathers and partners as care givers and responsible.

To realize desirable sexual and reproductive status quo, we should awaken-embrace a positive influence that masculine gender would add, if only integrated for a better quality of life and wellbeing.

Therefore, a comprehensive-holistic approach to embrace both the male and female emancipation can effectively achieve results, sustainably impact on lives of the next generation’s productivity and synergies combined would make sure that everyone wins.

The writer works at the Reproductive Health Uganda