Share & more
Experts from southern Africa have gathered in Namibia to discuss critical reproductive health challenges in the sub-region and formulate strategies to address them.
About 200 delegates will carve out a comprehensive reproductive health component, to be incorporated into the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) framework on related health issues.
During the three-day meeting, organised by the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR), the African Union (AU) and the UN Population Fund, the delegates will draft proposals to be considered on Friday by the health ministers.
Dr Richard Kamwi, Namibia's deputy health minister, said there "is an urgent need for a clearer understanding of the pivotal linkages between sexual and reproductive health, and poverty eradication and overall development of the African continent", adding that "Governments cannot do it alone - broader alliances are necessary."
The former president of Zambia and IPPFAR's goodwill ambassador, Kenneth Kaunda, said concrete plans and quick actions were necessary. "We owe it to our succeeding generations to secure their future," he pointed out.
The controversial topic of abortion, which is outlawed in Namibia but legal in some African countries like South Africa, was also raised.
"Reproductive health also includes safe motherhood, and safe abortion is part of that," argued Dr Malefetsane Peter Ngatane, an executive committee member of IPPFAR. "Contraceptive services will never be complete if they do not include abortion."
According to the AU commissioner for social affairs, Bience Gawanas, HIV/AIDS was aggravating reproductive health programmes in Africa. "Southern Africa is hardest hit and [the problem is] compounded by malaria and tuberculosis. Reproductive health is also about rights - the right to health services and the right to decide how many children to have", she emphasised.
Participants of the sub-regional conference on sexual reproductive health for Southern Africa include policy-makers, parliamentarians and representatives from NGOs, the private sector, trade unions, and donor and development agencies throughout Southern Africa.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions