Kenya’s population is growing rapidly at the
expense of women’s health. In Kenya, women account for more than a half
of its population. With nearly 1 in five women already mothers before their 18 birthday;
there is a need to focus more on women sexual and reproductive health.
It is estimated that 76 million
girls and women in developing countries, Kenya being among them, experience
unwanted/unintended pregnancies mainly because there is lack of
comprehensive sexuality education and lack of contraception. Moreover, 220
million women in the world mostly from developing countries cannot use
contraception even though they really want to because they have limited access
to contraception and comprehensive sexuality education.
Complications during pregnancy and labor are the
second leading cause of death among young girls and women between the age of 14
to 19 years because these girls have not developed enough physically to carry
out a pregnancy to term without complications.
Furthermore, teenage pregnancy has contributed
to more school dropouts amongst young girls killing their hopes and dreams in
life. Unintended pregnancies have also led to unsafe abortions which is the
leading cause of death amongst young girls and women in Kenya.
Investing more on contraception will ensure that
more girls will stay in school and finish their secondary education. We will
also see reduced maternal deaths and abortions in the country. Access to
sexual and reproductive health services and information is a human right.
If we are to achieve the goals of family planning 2020 then we need to invest
more on contraception and comprehensive sexuality education. I call upon all
the 47 counties in this country to invest more on contraception and
comprehensive sexuality education because it is what we young people want and
need. It is the best gift that you could ever give young people of this
country.
Happy World Contraception Day.
