Africa-Press – Mauritius. A one-day workshop on “Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health” organised by the Ministry of Health and Wellness opened, this morning, at the Gold Crest Hotel in Quatre Bornes, in the context of World Population Day observed annually on 11 July.
This year’s theme is “Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. ”
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Mrs Zaheda Lallmahomed, highlighted that the Ministry of Health and Wellness is investing massively in the provision of adequate and optimum health services to the population adding that one of the priorities of the government is the empowerment of girls and women.
She underlined that measures to ensure the empowerment of girls and women include the provision of school health programmes with information on sexual and reproductive health, HPV vaccination, preconception care, antenatal care, and breastfeeding in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.
“Maternal and child health services are also provided free of charge in Primary Health Centres and Regional Hospitals”, Mrs Lallmahomed recalled.
Furthermore, the Permanent Secretary indicated that all existing 150 Primary Health Centres provide antenatal care, well-baby clinics, and immunisation to women and children, which aligns with international recommendations.
“Gynecologists and pediatricians are providing a 24-hour service in the five Regional Hospitals and Family Planning Services are equally offered in all Health Centres to women of reproductive age group if they do not wish to conceive, free of cost and in proximity to the population,” she said.
Speaking about the workshop, the Permanent Secretary remarked that it will focus on sexual and reproductive health issues pertaining to adolescents and youth as this phase is associated with increased risks to reproductive health, and the need for improved reproductive health services is also being increasingly recognised throughout the world.
Mrs Lallmahomed emphasised that the youth need empowerment through knowledge to help them grow with positive attitudes towards sexuality, and added that providing young people with proper counseling fosters mutual respect, understanding, responsibility, accountability, respect for life, and avoids promiscuity.
“One of the objectives of this workshop is therefore to ensure that girls and women of our country reach their full potential and contribute positively to society,” she pointed out.
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius Follow Africa-Press
