Young people need to be fully aware of their sexual reproductive health rights-Lubinda

Justice Minister Given Lubinda says young people need to be fully aware of their sexual reproductive health rights and the existing options.

Mr. Lubinda says it is for this reason that government launched the Adolescent Health Strategy for 2017/2021 which is aimed at building on the gains achieved and lessons learnt during the implementation of the Adolescent Health strategy plan of 2011-2015.

Speaking when he officiated at the Transforming Lives Social Accountability Monitoring project partners meeting organized by SAfAIDS , Mr. Lubinda has revealed that government has made strides in making Adolescent health an integral part of the nation’s health agenda.

He further adds that government is closely working with other cooperating partners like Southern Africa HIV and Aids Information Dissemination Service and Africa Directions to ensure that youth friendly sexual reproductive health services and information is provided to the youths.

Mr. Lubinda who is also Justice Minister has called for high level commitment towards achieving the objectives of the Transforming Lives project which is aimed at transforming the Policy Environment for accelerating Access to sexual and reproductive health rights by adolescents and young people within the Sustainable Development Goals framework in Southern Africa by 2021.

Speaking at the same meeting, SAfAIDS Acting Country Director, Gaston Zulu says Zambia is making steady progress in building the capacity of adolescents and young people so that they can hold policy makers and budget holders to account in allocating adequate resources to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for adolescent girls and young people.

And Africa Directions, Director, Mark Chilongu has reaffirmed the commitment of his organization to work with young people in Zambia in exploring their potential.