NAKURU, Kenya, Feb 21 – Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) lobbyists in Nakuru have appealed to the government to ensure sufficient free condom supplies to universities and other institutions of higher learning.
The lobbyist who included the clergy, student leaders, Civil Society Organisations and community leaders observed that reduced supply of free condom in the institutions which have been in an all time low since 2023 would lead to increased new HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases infections.
Livia Bosibori, a student leader at Egerton University observed that students do not have access to tool kits that ensure safe and protected sex yet most of them are sexually active.
The senior medicine and surgery who double up as a volunteer champion at Reproductive Health Champion Organisation (RHCO) said tens of female students were also dropping out of university annually due to unwanted pregnancies.
Speaking during a community dialogue to commemorate International Day of Families in Nakuru on Tuesday, Bosibori noted that the problem would worsen following the funding freeze by United States of America.
The objective of discussion at the community dialogue organised by RHCO was to understand the position of families in promoting of SRHR.
It also highlighted how decision making on SRHR matters at the family level affects the stability and general well being of families.
Bosibori added that university SRHR clubs did not have the necessary support in terms of funding to help them conduct impactful and meaningful awareness campaigns and outreach programmes.
“Most youths do not have knowledge on matters pertaining sexual and reproductive health rights neither do they have a support system when they get infected of pregnant, in Nakuru we have only one recovery centre at the Nakuru County Teaching and Referral hospital which is not sufficient,” she said
Her sentiments were echoed by Hafsa Ondieki who urged the government to establish safe spaces for youths where they could freely speak about sexual and reproductive health rights in the language that they understand and without the fear of being judged or discriminated.
“Sex conversations are no longer a taboo, parents should engage their children in this important conversation and the religious institutions such as churches, mosques and temples should consider infusing sex education in their teachings,” she said.
Ondieki also urged county government to establish gender and reproductive health laws and policies which were going to accommodate the issues of sexual and reproductive health in men and women at the grassroots.
“These policies will address the challenges Kenyans are having, especially as mothers and young girls with teenage pregnancies,” said Ondieki who is also a Youth SRHR Champion.
RHCO Executive Director, Martin Lunalo decried increased maternal deaths in public hospitals since the introduction of Social Health Authority (SHA).
He urged the government to ensure happy families and community, people needed to be assured of safety, love and access to required health care services as enshrined in the constitution
“Family is a unit that is recognised by the law under article 45.and the government needs to make sure that were are promoting family, this cannot happen if women are dying at childbirth,” he said.
