County governments of kenya should invest more in contraceptives

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.