Prioritize on the Reproductive Health of Young People, Counties Told

BY PETER KOMBE Lobbyists in Mombasa County have urged county governments to prioritize on the reproductive health of young people terming it a basic concern. They (lobbyists) were speaking in Mombasa on Monday during a youth forum organised by Network for Adolescent and Youth of Africa NAYA, a non-governmental organisation based in Nairobi in partnership with Mombasa based youth organizations. Network for Adolescents and Youth of Africa NAYA executive director Victor Rasugu asked counties to ensure that they fully involve young people in all budget making processes at all levels. He said reproductive health is a concern amongst young people. Rasugu adds that public participation is a fundamental aspect calling on counties to ensure the concerns of young people are addressed during budget making processes. “Counties should critically look into the issues of young people. Their concerns should also be taken into consideration. Another lobbyist, Robbert Aseda from noted that the organisation is working closely with Dream Achievers Youth Organization among other lobby groups within the county to ensure the needs of young people are factored in the county budget making processes. He asked the county government to further invest in the health of young people by increasing the number of youth friendly facilities. “It is the mandate of the county government at to ensure that all views are taken into consideration during public participation. However the challenge has always been that young people are normally left out in this process,” said Aseda. On the other hand, Dream Achievers Youth Organization reproductive health officer Gaetano Muganda cites reproductive health and teenage pregnancy as a teething challenge in Mombasa County. He adds that some of the young people in within the county have no access to youth friendly services citing inadequacy of the facilities. “It is even difficult for us to get a copy of the county fiscal strategy paper. This to me raises the question of integrity,” Muganda noted. Muganda insists that there is a need for the county government to ensure the needs of young people are factored in during budget making processes. The reproductive health officer says youth friendly facilities are inadequate and cannot suffice the needs of young people within the county. “The county was to put up a youth friendly centre at Ziwa la ngombe but that one is still pending. As we speak YFCs are not sufficient,” said Muganda. Meanwhile, Kadzandani Creative Youth Organisation executive director Omar Chai wants the county to allocate more resources on reproductive health. He laments over what he claims is the county leaving out young people during the budget making processes. “During public participations politics normally dominate. Most of the youths demands are not keyed in during public participation gatherings,” said Chai. On the issue of the mushrooming of juvenile gangs in some parts of Mombasa County, Chai blamed parents on claims of failing to play their parental obligations. He further rubbished claims that the security apparatus has failed adding “we cannot always blame security agents. We have a responsibility to ensure that we all co-exist peacefully amongst us,”