This year’s World Contraception Day (WCD) spurred an enthusiastic occasion to commemorate its annual event in Ethiopia. At the national level, Semera, in Afar region was a host to the event. At a different venue, DSW and Bayer partnered to lead the occasion on October 5 2017. DSW/Bonita Youth Development Training Center was the venue at which WCD celebrated. A half day occasion turned into an eventful where young people have proactively partaken in the discussion. Keynote speakers from Ministry of Health and the Oromia Health Bureau particularly presented some findings about the current trend in contraceptive prevalence and family planning services in Ethiopia.
At the start of the event some entertaining shows displayed by Niser Youth SRH and Anti AIDS Association. The shows mainly focus on contraceptive issues.
The Country Director of DSW Ethiopia, Feyera Assefa made his opening speech. He welcomed invited guests and the youth and reading the theme of this year’s WCD theme: “It is Your Life, It is Your Future, Know Your Option.” Feyera gave emphasis on the relevance of the global and national contraception day event. “DSW identifies the dynamics of the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) situation in relations to the quality of information and the friendly services accessibility. As more and more youth are aware of their SRH and contraceptive needs, the challenges often lurked in the way we are able to provide youth-friendly services. Lack of quality information to create awareness on SRH and contraceptive issues requires the concerted efforts from the public and private partnership. That is why it remains important for all of us to reinforce more synergy by including the private enterprises and address the challenges,” says Feyera.
In an opening remark, Dr. Alem Gonfa, deputy mayor of Bishoftu (Debrezeit) town, where the occasion took place, asserted the benefit the young people in his town gain from DSW’s youth program. “When it comes to the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues, the adolescents and youth in our town both in-and-out of school should take advantage from DSW’s youth program. It is always safe for the young people and other residents to understand and utilize their knowledge about the benefit of contraceptive accession. Such occasion is an important entry point to pay attention to,” the deputy mayor said.
Each of the three keynote speakers agreed that awareness is the key to the path for changes in attitude and behavior. In his part, Mr. Abera Degefa, youth health focal person with the Oromia Health Bureau, underscores his points, “Young age is a crucial stage of life when information on SRH impacts a life time benefit. Risky activities and behavior of the youth are not unpreventable. If only in such forums and others we are able to reach the youth with youth-friendly SRH information. I would like to put emphasis on the behavior change communication materials the likes of which DSW designed and disseminate. Local languages must always put into consideration, if the particular SRH issues are to be fully understood. The youth are far better off to be knowledgeable of their SRH needs have access to the youth-friendly services”.
In all cases, the speakers have emphasized on the fact that youth be at the center of the focus in any efforts to address the SRH issues. Mr. Sintayehy Abebe, maternal, adolescent and youth health case team coordinator at the Ministry of Health could not agree more. “Youth are the largest demographic group in Ethiopia; hence our focus should be centered at them. A healthy future of a nation remains dependant on healthy youth. How much the youth are aware about their SRH needs and the access to the contraceptives, it tells how much safe is their future. If we keep the youth healthy and empower them with behavior changing SRH information, the likelihood of benefiting from the demographic dividend would be the way forward, concludes his keynote, Mr. Sintayehu who is 31-year-old. The representative from Bayer, Solomon Mekonnen, assured the enthusiastic youth in attendance that Bayer remains committed to play a key role in increasing access to the SRH services and supplies now and in the future.
The world contraception day originally falls on September 26. Due to conveniences, this year’s was pushed a few days further. DSW and Bayer continue to partner for the second year in a row to commemorate the day in Ethiopia.