Reproductive health issues inaccessible to most youth
Sep 26, 2006
Kabuwo from Kabarole, said she was defiled at the age of 15. She now has a child. Another girl gave a moving testimony of her life as a sex-worker.
By Irene Nabusoba
Kabuwo from Kabarole, said she was defiled at the age of 15. She now has a child. Another girl gave a moving testimony of her life as a sex-worker.
Samson Bihanikire from Kasese told of how boda boda cyclists had changed their behaviour as a result of the Promoting Safer Choices for Adolescents (ProSCAd) project.
These are some of the beneficiaries of the ProSCAd, a pilot project started by CARE International, for adolescents in the districts of Kasese, Kabale and Kabarole.
In spite of all efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health for all Ugandans, many adolescents are left out. This observation was made at the national adolescent sexual and reproductive health symposium, held last week at Namboole Stadium in Kampala.
It was observed that adolescents in the age bracket 10-19 years comprise 24% (about six million) of the total population while young people, aged 10-24 years, comprise 33% (about eight million). Many of these are left out as adolescents programmes benefit a few who are easily accessible or can afford the services.
Over 200 participants from different stakeholders in sexual and reproductive health for adolescents like CARE International in Uganda, Ministry of Health, Family Life Network, Population Secretariat, and Straight Talk. Others are the YEAH campaign, Uganda National Health Consumers Organisation, PANOS Eastern Africa, United Nation’s Children’s Fund, and the National Youth Council.
Other participants included Members of Parliament, district officials, government and donor agencies, service providers from different districts, representatives from Malawi, Sierra Leone and Georgia.
Kevin Fitzcharles, the country director of CARE-Uganda, asked participants to address the reasons for failure of current mechanisms to cater for the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people.
The minister of state for Primary Health Care, Emanuel Otaala, agreed that adolescent health was a neglected area which required intervention.
“Adolescents have a high disease burden in the area of sexual and reproductive health. For every 10 male HIV-positive adolescents aged 15-19 years there are 43 females who are HIV positive in the same age bracket. Uganda has a 32% teenage pregnancy rate, which is one of the highest in the world. Adolescents uptake of family planning is at a mere 10% compared to a national average of 23%. Adolescents are also prone to drug and substance abuse,†Otaala said.
He said the Ministry of Health has come up with a policy on adolescent health aimed at advocacy and behavioural change communication, capacity development, research and resource mobilisation, co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation, and provision of adolescent-friendly services.
Other highlights at the symposium included exhibitions and voluntary counselling and testing for young people.
Ends
Kabuwo from Kabarole, said she was defiled at the age of 15. She now has a child. Another girl gave a moving testimony of her life as a sex-worker.
Samson Bihanikire from Kasese told of how boda boda cyclists had changed their behaviour as a result of the Promoting Safer Choices for Adolescents (ProSCAd) project.
These are some of the beneficiaries of the ProSCAd, a pilot project started by CARE International, for adolescents in the districts of Kasese, Kabale and Kabarole.
In spite of all efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health for all Ugandans, many adolescents are left out. This observation was made at the national adolescent sexual and reproductive health symposium, held last week at Namboole Stadium in Kampala.
It was observed that adolescents in the age bracket 10-19 years comprise 24% (about six million) of the total population while young people, aged 10-24 years, comprise 33% (about eight million). Many of these are left out as adolescents programmes benefit a few who are easily accessible or can afford the services.
Over 200 participants from different stakeholders in sexual and reproductive health for adolescents like CARE International in Uganda, Ministry of Health, Family Life Network, Population Secretariat, and Straight Talk. Others are the YEAH campaign, Uganda National Health Consumers Organisation, PANOS Eastern Africa, United Nation’s Children’s Fund, and the National Youth Council.
Other participants included Members of Parliament, district officials, government and donor agencies, service providers from different districts, representatives from Malawi, Sierra Leone and Georgia.
Kevin Fitzcharles, the country director of CARE-Uganda, asked participants to address the reasons for failure of current mechanisms to cater for the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people.
The minister of state for Primary Health Care, Emanuel Otaala, agreed that adolescent health was a neglected area which required intervention.
“Adolescents have a high disease burden in the area of sexual and reproductive health. For every 10 male HIV-positive adolescents aged 15-19 years there are 43 females who are HIV positive in the same age bracket. Uganda has a 32% teenage pregnancy rate, which is one of the highest in the world. Adolescents uptake of family planning is at a mere 10% compared to a national average of 23%. Adolescents are also prone to drug and substance abuse,†Otaala said.
He said the Ministry of Health has come up with a policy on adolescent health aimed at advocacy and behavioural change communication, capacity development, research and resource mobilisation, co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation, and provision of adolescent-friendly services.
Other highlights at the symposium included exhibitions and voluntary counselling and testing for young people.
Ends