By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
A Health Expert with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Dr. Oluseyi Olosunde has lamented the low percentage of women and adolescents from the age of 15-49 years in Bauchi State who cannot make informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraception use and Reproductive Health Care.
Daily Independent reports that Bauchi is implementing a project on Improving Primary Healthcare Institutional and Community Capacities to deliver High quality gender responsive in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rigths and Nutrition services for Women, adolescents and children in Bauchi, Kebbi and Kaduna.
The project is funded by Global Affairs Canada and supported by UNICEF.
Dr. Oluseyi stated this during a Media Engagement on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, held in Azare, Bauchi State.
He said that many women in the state, particularly in the rural areas do not have the rigth to make informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraception use and Reproductive Health Care, thereby putting their health at risk and their children.
According to him, sexual and Reproductive Health is the right of adolescents and women, stressing that it ensures they understand their bodies, rights and choices.
“Nationally the percentage of women who make informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraception use and Reproductive Health Care is 28.8 %, in the Northeast region is 15.3% while in Bauchi State, the percentage is as low as 9.4%”.
“It is important to support women and adolescents in Bauchi State to make informed decisions about their bodies and future.Sexual and Reproductive Health is not about disease prevention, it includes well-being, information, equality, autonomy and dignity.One out of four children are already married in Bauchi State and many lives have been destroyed through teenage pregnancy”he said
He advocated for access to accurate information, youth friendly services, rigth to consent privacy, consent and protection as well as support for healthy relationships and empowerment to make informed decisions as part of efforts to improve Reproductive Health Care in the state.