By SITEMBILE SIWAWA
SHOUTING could be heard from a little
hut that Petronella Muyaba (not real name) occupies as her husband scolds her
for accessing family planning services just a few weeks after giving birth.
The
yelling is upsetting for her as she breastfeeds her baby especially that she has
not fully recovered from the experience.
Petronella (28) is forced to blame
herself for having listened to her friends about the idea of accessing family
planning services weeks after delivering.
Little did she realise she made a wise
decision and that the scolding by her husband was a clear indication of
violation of her sexual reproductive health rights (SRHRs).
It is unfortunate
that women have continued to suffer abuse at the hands of their husbands where
SRHRs are concerned.
In as much as the unfortunate scenario is happening
countrywide, it is worse in rural communities.
And in an attempt to bring the
messages of SRHRs closer to rural communities, Southern African HIV and AIDS
Information Dissemination Service (SAFAIDS) in Zambia has started training
members of Parliament (MPs) and ward councillors to help sensitise their
electorate.
The training and message could not have come at a better time than
this when SRHRs are being violated without the realisation of women.
Furthermore, the HIV and AIDS prevalence rates are on the increase due to lack
of recognition of the SRHRs.
SAFAIDS held its first training workshop last
Saturday in Mumbwa which was attended by area MP Dr Brian Chituwo and 10 ward
councillors.
SAFAIDS programmes officer Namucanah Mushabati said there is need
to partner with MPs and ward councillors because it is general understood that
parliamentarians and councillors have more influence over their constituencies.
"We call traditional, elected and religious leaders 'champions' who have the
voice people in communities can listen to and actually practice what they are
asked to do," said Ms Mushabati.
She also said the issues of SRHRs if not
addressed in the depths of rural communities are the key drivers of the HIV and
AIDS pandemic.
True to this, SRHRs, which are a concept of human rights, require
a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships as well
as the possibility of pleasurable and safe sexual experience free of coercion,
discrimination and violence.
SRHRs aim at ensuring that women of child- bearing
age have access to quality health care services of their choice so that they
remain healthy.
The violation of SRHRs includes early marriages, rape,
defilement, marital rape and lack of age appropriate services.
And the
consequences of the violation of these rights range from high maternal deaths,
infant and child mortality rates, high teenage pregnancies and high abortion
rates.
And Dr Chituwo said the HIV and AIDS pandemic has adversely affected
rural communities as many women are not aware of SRHRs.
Dr Chituwo said failure
by men and women to recognise and respect these rights has led to the high
levels of HIV and AIDS.
He notes that "as legislators, we vote on Acts of
Parliament and we can ensure that legislation protects human rights and advances
effective prevention and care programmes".
Mumbwa ward councillor Joshua
Cholobesa said elected leaders in various constituencies have the duty to
influence public opinion and increase public knowledge on various issues
including HIV and AIDS.
Mr Cholobesa said, "As advocates, we can mobilise the
involvement of Government, private sector and civil society to discharge their
societal responsibilities in responding to the HIV and AIDS epidemic."
He said
elected leaders can allocate financial resources to support and enhance
effective HIV and AIDS programmes that are consistent with human rights
principles.
Meanwhile, Mumbwa district council secretary Elina Banda said the
recognition of SRHRs will enable women attain full human potential.
Ms Banda
said not only is there need to enlighten people on the existence of these rights
but to also take the services closer to them.
She, however, said that disabled
people also have a right to increased services. "Disabled people also have a
right to sexual reproductive health and our legislators should be in the
forefront in lobbying for their rights," stressed Ms Banda.
And Kalwanyembe ward
councillor Landson Sangwapo noted that self-stigmatisation is still rampant in
his area due to lack of information.
Mr Sangwapo said some people would rather
access their anti-retroviral drugs from health centres in other areas for fear
of being seen.
He said "failure by some people to acknowledge their HIV status
has greatly contributed to the rise in the prevalence rate of the pandemic in my
area".
Meanwhile, Mumbwa district clinical officer Kayama Nangana said despite
the services of SRHRs being available, the number of unwanted pregnancies,
especially in adolescents, is still considerably high.
He said it is vital for
legislators to ensure tha there is information on such matters to enable them
have access to services without difficulties.
No comments:
Post a Comment