KAMPALA– Various Key stakeholders dealing with matters related to sexual reproductive health described the media as one of the most important tools for sensitizing the public, as well as creating awareness among the youth to attaining their rights.
Jackson Chekweko, Executive Director Reproductive Health Uganda addressing the participants in the meeting. (Courtesy photo)
In a media break fasting meeting held on Thursday at Hotel Africana Kampala, media practitioners shared their views with other partners on what should be done to improve proper dissemination of sexual reproductive health related information.
“It has never been big like this to bring the media giants in one room with other stakeholders to have an engagement on how to amplify young people’s voices. The media has done a tremendous role in awareness creation among Ugandans.”
Chekweko further asked the government of Uganda to create and enact a thorough sexuality education program to offer young people the necessary guidance, safeguard their values, and empower them to make positive contributions to the country.
“Realizing the crucial role that the media plays in shifting norms, informing the public and setting the agenda, we are hosting media players to establish better partnership ways to ensure SRHR issues are mainstreamed in media.” Remarked Olivia Komugisha Communications officer at Reproductive Health Uganda
Chemutai Prossy one of those that gave birth at an early age (15years) expressed the need to have all sensitization messages targeting the young people broadcasted via their favorite channels.
Some of the participants
“At home fathers need to teach their children about changes in their reproductive system as well as means of how to handle challenges that may come their way than leaving the responsibility to other individuals.”
Chemutai pointed out that having survived the worst life experience with support from some of her relatives, she is also supporting over 30 teenage mothers to be able to continue with their studies.
Walter Mwesigye, one of the journalists who participated in the meeting asked Legislators to come up with a clear policy of sexual education in schools instead of confusing it with sexuality.
“We also need to find means of encountering negative cultural practices that expose young people to sex on top of humiliating them publically. This should be done by everyone including Political and religious leaders.”
Other participants asked the Civil Society Organizations to include people with disability in all their programs so that they don’t remain backward as their colleagues move forward in acquiring knowledge and skills. Others expressed the need to have parents senstized on proper handling of adolescents.
“Parents and the general should stop confusing sexual education with LGBT issues.” One media practitioner noted.