10 Sep 2017

 An official from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ms Lesego Mokganya says most social ills are a result of neglected sexual reproductive health issues.

Ms Mokganya said sexual reproductive health required a holistic approach that included spiritual and cultural aspects.

Speaking in an interview in Maun recently at a workshop with Dikgosi, Ms Mokganya said some social ills were due to neglected sexual reproductive health such as teenage pregnancy,

HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies which had consequences such as depression, abortion, child dumping and child negligence that affected the community.

“Good sexual and reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system.

It implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so,” she said.

She said the health ministry recognised the importance of engaging with various stakeholders including dikgosi, churches and parents to enlighten them and share ideas.

Dikgosi, she said, had the best interest of their communities at heart hence instrumental in sexual health matters.

She said dikgosi were concerned by socials ills such as delinquency, unplanned and teenage pregnancy and psychosocial consequences.

Ms Mokganya said capacitating dikgosi was crucial as they were the link to various organisations.

She said a holistic approach to sexual reproductive health which involved spiritual and cultural aspects that promoted the family as the centre of life was important.

Ms Mokganya said research had shown that absent fathers contributed to many social ills while the presence of both parents resulted in healthy children and society.

Kgosi Rebecca Banika of Chobe said parents should be cautious and avoid being physically present but not active in raising their children.

She said social media was disrupting the family setup because parents were only physically present.

Kgosi Molatedi Dingalo of Shorobe said children’s rights challenged parents since disciplining them was misinterpreted as abuse.

The workshop discussed issues of sexual reproductive health/HIV challenges that existed in communities and shared ideas on strengthening advocacy and finding solutions. Ends