Participants at the just concluded Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights affirm that Sexual Rights are an integral and inalienable part of basic Human Rights. This requires that African states be accountable to their citizens for their sexual health and rights.
Participants also called for increased accountability across the African continent at all levels – governments, institutions, civil society, communities, families and individuals.
CONTENTS Government throws weight behind Conference
In a speech at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange, stressed that the Nigerian government is geared towards implementing a holistic approach to health through the strengthening of the healthcare system, advocating of gender equity, implementation of evidence-based approaches to eliminating violence against women and children and integrating all programmes pertaining to maternal, newborn and child health.
Session Brief - The failure to deliver quality childbirth care in Kenyan health facilities
Claris Oganda of the Federation of Women’s Lawyers has interviewed women healthcare providers, licensing and regulatory bodies, and leaders of medical associations in Kenya. She spoke to delegates about the reasons for the poor state of healthcare in Kenya.
Collaborative partnership with the media enjoined
The ignorance of journalists and the unwillingness of healthcare providers to provide the necessary information due to the bureaucratic procedures have been described as the major obstacle to the effective reporting on sexual health and rights issues in Nigeria particularly and in Africa as a whole.
CONTENTS Conference seeks to integrate HIV/AIDS with sexual health and rights
About 500 delegates, with representatives from each of the continents and at least 20 African countries, are expected to attend the 3rd Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights.
Youths urged to be assertive in their views on sexuality and accountability
As the conference kicked off, Mrs. Nike Esiet, one of the Plenary speakers and Executive Director at Action Health Incorporated Lagos, reiterated the need for governments to give a listening ear to youth perspectives on sexuality, poverty and accountability.
Session Brief - Sexuality health and rights promotion: Men’s active involvement urged
Men have been left behind in the move to emancipate and empower women, according to Nonofo Molefhi, an MP for population and development in Botswana, who is due to address the delegates to conference.
