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NGO tasks govt, parents others on sexual reproductive health, rights

Robert Awokuse

With the prevalence of sexual abuse and other forms of violence against women, especially young girls and vulnerable children, a  non-governmental organization (NGO), Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI) has called on government at all levels to increase awareness on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) among the female folks in the country.

This is even as the organization urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to consider free health services for the less privileged in the society.

Speaking at a media parley in Lagos recently, following the outcome of the meeting on the ‘Universal Health Coverage: Making SRHR work for women and girls,’ organised by the United Nations, VSI Project Director, Mrs Ngozi Nwosu-Juba, said it was imperative for young people to be informed about their sexuality and rights, as this would enable them make the right decisions on sex matters.

Nwosu-Juba noted that many teenagers are not well informed on issues relating to sexuality, unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion, which could result to complications, stressing that sex conversations among young people for proper enlightenment should be done in schools and by parents.

She said this became imperative as teenagers are confronted with a lot of things such as peer pressure, exposure to unwholesome materials on the internet, amongst others, which are capable not only to distract them from what is right, but also to destroy their lives.

The director charged government, parents, religious leaders, schools and media organisations among others to rise up and give the teenagers the right information and education on SRHR.

“Nigeria is still backwards and we are shying away from information on SRHR,” Nwosu-Juba said.

“People have rights to determine how their body should be used and if they have the right information their body will not be used wrongly.

“We are championing that young people have information about their sexual health and be conscious of their reproductive health, especially by discouraging and keeping off abortion, which often leads to serious complications as many of them visit quacks who even take advantage of them. We want them to be well informed about the dangers associated with abortion. Some of them are going as far as using hanger to remove pregnancy from their womb by inserting it through their vagina.

“Parents should tell their girl child about the way their body works when they start reaching puberty. We have a responsibility as parents to enlighten these children.

“Sexual and reproductive health and rights is essential to protecting overall well being of women and girls. It is not a moral imperative but an economic imperative.”

Speaking on the universal health coverage, the project director said UHC was key to reducing poverty and promoting equity and social cohesion, adding that government should be awake to its responsibility of providing good health for every citizen.

“Government should invest in everyone’s health especially women, girls and the less privileged population in order to ensure the achievement of positive health outcome.

“Currently, Nigeria health system is insufficient to meet the expectation of leaving no one behind as espoused in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).”

She said government must up their game by facing the reality and make provisions for more health workers that understand young people, noting that unsafe abortion is on the increase.

“Nigerian government must invest in its Primary Healthcare facilities, poor people should not pay for health at the expense of their food and the education of their children. Government should ensure comprehensive SRHR as a means of tackling unmet needs of a whole range of services young people require.

“Government should ensure gender budgeting, support domestic funding for health and reduce over dependence on external funding. They should partner with civil society organizations as they are close to the people and can provide useful tips on health care and well being SRHR is essential to protecting overall well being of women and girls,” she said.

Executive Director, His Marvelous Grace Support Foundation, Mrs Oluwadamisi Tayo-Ladega, called for collective effort to ensure SRHR.

“In cases of child abuse, we must all speak out on perpetrators, we must not be silent because rape cases are on the rise. Victims are emotionally and psychologically not balanced  hence the need to speak out. But with the right information and education on SRHR, the number of victims will reduce or stop,” she said.

Executive Director, Community Women’s Right Foundation, Alh. Lateef Akinborode, said children must be educated on the level of information they should expose themselves to over the internet and entertainment channels.

Executive Coordinator, Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation, Foluke Ademokun, noted the need to insist that government should promote infrastructure that would empower women and girls to get their needs met, noting that one of the reasons girls could get into sex early is due to poverty.

She also called for accountability of perpetrators and the need for them to face the consequences of their actions.

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