MORE than 70 participants from reproductive health sector, adolescent, faith based organisations, politicians and community leaders this week discussed new strategy to conduct reproductive and health awareness programs in the urban and rural communities.
The new plan is to work in collaboration with chiefs, church leaders and faith based organisation to implement the new strategy in the communities.
Ministry of health national program coordinator adolescent health Nancy Pego said it was their failure to work as a team to conduct reproductive health awareness programs at communities.
“We should work together as partners in the communities to conduct activities that can empower our young people to have potential to develop them.”
Ms Pego said chiefs and church leaders are most respected people in the society and must be used to talk with young people on health and reproductive issues.
“A chief can be able to talk about high teenage pregnancy, gender based violence, unsafe abortion and STIs despite of the cultural norms.”
Ms Pego said it is very important to conduct activities that can develop young people’s skills to at least offer them opportunity to earn income at the end of the day.
Meanwhile she appeal to all health workers in the country to work collaborate with chiefs, church leaders, provincial leaders and faith based organisation to take up the work assigned to them in the communities.
By JOY BUAOKA
