Tatenda Songore

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 The Ministry of Health has reinforced the implementation of the National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy, aimed at shielding adolescents from early exposure to risks associated with sexual and reproductive health. The policy, introduced three years ago, seeks to prevent gender-based violence, including defilement, and reduce teenage pregnancies. Dr. Jacqueline Kisia, Director of Sexual Reproductive Health at the Ministry, highlighted the urgency of the initiative, citing the Kenya Demographic Health Survey, which indicates that 15 percent of children aged 10 to 18 have given birth. She emphasized the need to lower this figure, stressing that “children should not be having children.” Speaking at a media sensitization workshop in Nairobi under the ‘Step Up to Access’ campaign, Dr. Christine Wambugu, Director of Adolescent Health, underscored the importance of parent-child relationships in guiding teenagers. She noted that the Ministry has developed a parenting manual to help caregivers foster open communication and delay early sexual activity. Additionally, a handbook titled Understanding Adolescents has been published to equip young people with knowledge about their bodies and development. The Step Up to Access campaign, spearheaded by Youth Advocates across Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, aims to address teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, and HIV infections. Executive Director Tatenda Songore called for increased reproductive health education in schools to provide young people with the right information and guidance.