By Sihlobo Bulala
The Community Youth Development Trust has initiated a movement to draft a Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) policy following SRHR workshop trainings it held with Gwanda youths.
The policy, which looks into adding on the available Municipality of Gwanda gender policy borders around enhancing, and capacitating youths in relation to their sexual health reproductive rights.
During a meeting held early this week, the participants inclusive of Municipality of Gwanda policy makers, National Aids Council representative, and a number of youths, deliberated on vital principles which ought to lay a foundation for such a policy.
It was highlighted that, for guidance, the policy has to be complimentary with the national constitution in issues like age of consent. More so, the participants pointed out that the policy ought to explore the role of patriarchy in sexual reproductive rights.
The accessibility of medical facilities was also identified as a bearing which needs to solidify the policy which advocates for sexual reproductive health rights. This is especially the case in rural areas were their clinics are far stretched from where most homesteads are located, and they hence have to endure the unbearable distances to seek medication. The plight of rural based citizens often has them deter to seeking medication, and it is at their expense.
While it can be acknowledged that the Ministry of Health committed to set up mobile clinics once in a while, the participants raised their concern on the frequency of such visits and the efficiency of the communication for the benefit of communities in their wholeness. The policy is intended to speak more on the set up of systematic mobile clinics which should be characterized by frequent visits and accessibility of a range of services so no one is left unattended.
Gwanda youths advocated for professionalism of medical care workers alongside regular special programmes earmarked for all youths. These were identified as a strategy that will help with the marketing of services, and for spreading awareness across communities.
Cultural practices were also identified to be the epitome of human rights violation. In this regard, it was raised that harmful cultural practices should be called out, especially as they are normally found to be infringing the next person’s rights. Religious beliefs which seem to take advantage of women were also identified to be the causes of heightened patriarchy as more often, the beliefs seem to be more beneficial to men than women.
In essence, the mentioned guidelines, in the likeliness of the question of age of consent, question of harmful cultural practices, lack of professionalism and ethics in medical centres, inaccessibility of health care infrastructure and relevant facilities amongst others, are meant to better the provision of sexual reproductive health rights.
SRHR advocacy campaigns being spearheaded by CYDT seek to help young people realise the power within, in changing the narrative and the misery of their SRHR state. The SRHR advocacy campaigns that are taking place at community level will attract national appeal and policy shift as youths will continue to challenge their current state of their sexual reproductive health services.
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