10 Dec 2023

Southern African Development Community (SADC) states have been applauded for their commitment to devising strategies and approaches to address maternal and neonatal mortality as well as promote a multi-sectoral approach to addressing the scourge of gender-based violence.

SADC deputy executive secretary for Regional Integration, Ms Angele Makombo-N’tumba said there was a need to ensure every woman, adolescent girl and young woman accessed contraceptives so to reach their full potential.

She made the remarks at the recent launch of SADC second milestone scorecard on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) to accelerate its attainment for the people of the SADC region.

Ms N’tumba said the strategy and scorecard were driven by SADC Vision 2030, which aimed for a region where all people were able to have a healthy sexual and reproductive life as an integral component of sustainable human development in the Region.

Minister of Health of Angola, also, chairperson of SADC Ministerial Committee on Health, Dr Silvia Lutucuta, applauded eSwatini, Namibia and South Africa, for initiating development of the SADC SRHR Strategy and Scorecard.

Dr Lutucuta said the launch of 2nd SADC SRHR milestone scorecard provided an opportunity to highlight progress made, barriers, challenges, priorities, and strategies on SRHR in the region and advocating for increased action in protecting, sustaining, and advancing the SRHR gains.

Ms Lydia Zigomo, regional director, UNFPA East and Southern Africa speaking on behalf of the UN Agencies supporting Together4SRHR programme, said SADC region must ensure that all people enjoy a healthy sexual and reproductive life, and have sustainable access to quality SRHR services.

She said one of the five key areas was the promotion of open and frank conversations on the impact that legal and policy barriers posed on the SRHR, leading to high unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortion, gender-based violence, and ultimately on new HIV infections and maternal mortality.

Ms Zigomo said the importance of building resilience health systems to withstand future pandemics, climate change impact, conflicts and other humanitarian shocks, was by including SRHR in national disaster preparedness strategies and the next generation of SRHR strategies and frameworks.

SADC Region Strategy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights 2019–2030 was endorsed by health ministers and ministers responsible for HIV & AIDS, in 2018.

It  is a policy and programming framework for SADC states to accelerate attainment of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all people living in the region. ENDS