School leaders, parents and local authorities are vital in influencing the framework of sexual and reproductive health and rights education.

This was pointed out by Winnie Mugabekazi, the representative of Health Development Initiative during a sensitization meeting with parents, school administrators and local leaders on young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights which was held yesterday.

The meeting was organized by Health development Initiative, a non-government organization which works towards a society in which everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the highest standard of health and wellbeing.

It aimed at exploring various roles of education officials and parents in regards to sexual reproductive health and rights and increasing education officials and parents’ knowledge of the rights.

"The reason as to why we called upon parents and education officials is because it’s them who are with the youth in most cases and therefore can be of great help. The youth encounter a lot of challenges that’s why they need lessons on how to protect themselves from difficulties such as unwanted pregnancies or diseases,” Mugabekaze said.

She added that, these officials have a stronger role in this that’s why they were called upon so that they get to impact the youth they lead, informing them about these things that would disrupt their education.

"We expect an impact on all youth, we also plan to meet them in their respective clubs and teach them more as we share information. More sessions should be organized to educate the youth so that they manage to jump hoops that may destroy their lives,” she advised.

Marie Gloriose Mukandakebuka the in-charge of education Nyarugunga Sector in Kicukiro District, said that trainings on sexual reproductive rights can be of great importance not only to the youth but the society at large.

"Educating the youth with issues concerning behavior and sex education can prevent unfortunate situations such as unwanted pregnancies especially on the side of girls, that’s why they need to be taught everything,” she said.

In most cases such issues of unwanted pregnancies arise because young ones don’t know the risks involved that’s why they handle them lightly and ignore the repercussions that are bound to come later, Mukandakebuka added.

She said when the youth are counseled and taught by people who are trusted it helps a lot, it’s not too late to save the youth and though It’s unfortunate that there are those who were unlucky not to get that education, there are still many who need education and still need protection.

Innocent Bijyiyobyenda, Director of Studies at Kagarama Secondary School, said the youth need guidance because of the various changes they experience which if not handled well can affect their lives forever.

"Children at the age of 14 or 15 are in the stage where they are about to enter the adolescent stage, sensitizations can help us find ways of handling them and give them right directions in that dangerous stage,” Bijyiyobyenda said.

" We have been told that there has been a program that has been put in place that concerns the raising of a child right from birth to adulthood, what I can advise is that the program should be implemented because if done well, it’s bound to bring a huge difference”.