Article Written by: Lum Mesline Nji (an AGYW)
WHAT IS SRHR ALL ABOUT ?
In present day society, SRHR is one of the major topics concerned with health and life(and as we all know health is life), that should not be ignored, because the dangers involved in neglecting it are great, hence should be treated with utmost urgency.
SRHR encompasses the different human rights related to sexuality and reproduction, such as sexual health, sexual rights, reproductive health and reproductive rights. Everyone, including children and adolescence are entitled to SRHR. It’s an essential part of universal coverage, which doesn’t just include absence of disease or dysfunction, but also ensures physical, emotional, mental, and social wellbeing,(definition of health according to WHO).
key facts about SRHR
- 3 Some 4.3 billion people of reproductive age will lack at least one essential sexual reproductive health service throughout their life.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of the world’s poor live, two-thirds of illnesses that women of reproductive age experience are caused by sexual and reproductive health problems.
- In the developing countries, more than 200 million women want to avoid pregnancy, but don’t have access to modern contraception, more than 45 million women have inadequate or no antenatal care, and more than 30million women do not deliver babies in a health facility.
HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD SRHR IMPACT AND HOW WOULD IT AFFECT THEIR LIVES?
There are some particular set of persons that are constantly disadvantaged when it concerns SRHR.
Most people who are denied SRHR are women, men and young people living in poverty in developing countries. Lack of access to SRHR can result in a range of negative outcomes.
key facts about SRHR which can also be considered as MAJOR THREATS TO SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS?
Reproductive health issues are the leading cause of illness and death for women and girls of reproductive age in developing countries.
- Some 4.3 billion people of reproductive age will lack at least one essential sexual reproductive health service throughout their life.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of the world’s poor live, two-thirds of illnesses that women of reproductive age experience are caused by sexual and reproductive health problems.
- In the developing countries, more than 200 million women want to avoid pregnancy, but don’t have access to modern contraception, more than 45 million women have inadequate or no antenatal care, and more than 30million women do not deliver babies in a health facility.
An estimated 80 million women each year have unintended or unwanted pregnancies, and every minute a woman dies from complication of pregnancy or childbirth.
Meanwhile, worldwide, 25million unsafe abortion take place, over 350 women and men need treatment for one of the four curable STIs, there are nearly 2 million new infections every year, and approximately 266,000 women die from cervical cancer annually.
WHO BENEFITS FROM SRHR AND WHY?
Marginalized and undeserved populations including LGBTQ+ people, displaced people and refugees, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, sex workers, people who use drugs, immigrants, and indigenous people-face greater barriers to sexual and reproductive health services, and challenges as a result. Laws and policies can limit access to services and contraceptives and health centers might discriminate against who can receive care based on marital status and gender.
Sexual and reproductive health rights prevent unintended pregnancies, improve maternal health, and prevent and treat STIs including HIV/AIDS.
GENDER INEQAULITY IS PREVENTING GLOBAL ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH CARE.
When women’s sexual and reproductive health isn’t restricted, nutrition improves and survival rate increases for them and their children. Having the option of time and space, when to have children makes women likely to stay in school, have more employment opportunities, and fully participate socially and politically. Better maternal health provides mothers the opportunity to care for and nature their children. When communities face fewer STIs, infertility is reduced and HIV/AIDS stigma reduces. This is what we should strive for.
HOW CAN ACCESS TO SRHR BE ENSURED TO ALL?
Lack of political will, inadequate resources and funding and discrimination against women and girls all prevent full access to SRHR worldwide, and should not be encouraged.
Ensuring everyone is protected by SRHR doesn’t have just one solution, but it includes initiatives such as comprehensive sexuality education, access to a range of modern contraceptives, antenatal childbirth and postnatal care, safe abortion services and treatment of complications of unsafe abortion, and prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Addressing early unintended pregnancies, mass media campaigns promoting STI reduction, stopping gender -based violence, and ending harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutation are also key, especially in marginalized communities.
This effort requires more funding, research, and support from policy makers, health care workers, educators, and health care advocates. It is estimated that in low and middle-income countries, it will only cost an average of $8.56 per person to meet all women’s needs for contraceptives, abortion, and maternal and new born health care.
HOW IS THIS RELATED TO GLOBAL GOALS AND ENDING POVERTY?
The world’s poorest women and men will benefit from increasing investment in ARHR. Access to SRHR is proven to improve health and wellbeing and reduce poverty and inequality, while also promoting economic growth and positively impacting families for generations.
Several of the Global Goals support the need for SRHR – Global Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing; Global Goal 4; Quality Education;
And Global Goal 5; Gender Equality. When people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights are denied, their wellbeing is threatened. People who live in poverty are disproportionately impacted by the lack of access to their full health care rights. Measures should therefore be taken to grant help to the underprivileged population.
Lum Mesline Nji
