IMPROVEMENT in attitude towards Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) education is crucial to ensure that young people enjoy a healthy and risk free adult life.
This was said by the Gender Advisor from Wazazi na Mwana Project, Anna Mushi, during a workshop for right to sexual and reproductive health in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday.
She added that the right to education gives young people access to information on SRHR which can guard them against abuse and diseases.
"We have to improve awareness among youths by creating an enabling environment for them and advocating SRHR friendly policies in the education and health sectors," she explained.
Ms Mushi said that the right to information and education gives young people access to important information on reproductive health which can guard them against abuse and exploitation.
She said that when this right is denied, it leads to lack of knowledge, lack of access to modern contraceptives, decreasing social status, increased sexual harassment of women and an increase in HIV infections.
Among all adolescents, girls in the marginalized communities were most discriminated against.
Speaking about family planning services, Ms Mushi said that health centres need skilled service providers so that they can provide proper education and services to youth and women.
She further said that it is also important for sexual reproductive health education to involve men instead of approaching women only as the matter is crucial for both genders without exemptions.
