Youth call for better reproductive health education
MOROGORO: YOUNG people have urged the government to strengthen reproductive health education programmes, saying wider access to accurate information is key to curbing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reducing teenage pregnancies and building a healthier generation.
The appeal was made during a technical working session organised by the Ministry of Health through its Department of Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health under the Adolescent Reproductive Health Programme.
The UMATI Tanzania youth representative, Kudra Polo, explained that many young people were being misled by false reproductive health information circulating on social media, often shared by people with no medical expertise.
He, therefore, urged youths to rely on information provided by qualified health professionals, warning that misinformation continues to fuel confusion about reproductive health issues.
“Young people should seek and trust reproductive health information provided by government health experts instead of relying on misleading messages circulating on social media,” Mr Polo observed.
According to him, access to accurate reproductive health information plays a vital role in preventing sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, while also helping to address the growing challenge of teenage pregnancies.
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On the other hand, a representative of university students from Dar es Salaam, Ellen Maguzu, called on parents and guardians to play a more active role in educating both girls and boys about reproductive health, saying guidance at home remains essential.
She noted that harmful cultural beliefs, misinformation spread by unqualified individuals, and misleading advice driven by commercial interests continue to deny many young people access to credible reproductive health information.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said it has developed a series of short reproductive health messages that will be used to educate young people during forums to be held in Ruvuma and Mwanza regions later this month.
