Social
Residents of Uasin Gishu county have been urged to uphold reproductive health in order to sustain a prosperous population.
Speaking during celebrations to mark the World’s Population Day at Kamukunji Market, Eldoret, North Rift Regional Population Coordinator for National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), Kigen Kipchirchir, pointed out that this year’s global theme, “Embracing the power of inclusive data towards a resilient and equitable future for all,” was chosen to address the prevailing population and development challenges annually.
Kipchirchir said member states then domesticates the global theme to address and suit their respective national issues and priorities. Consequently, Kenya’s 2024 national theme, ” Embracing data for decision-making in investing in adolescents and young people” has been domesticated to influence the policy makers and programme implementers to invest and uplift the Adolescents and young people.
“This theme is relevant to the country as the world plans to commemorate 30 years after the Cairo International Conference on Population Development conference of 1994 (ICPD@30),” he said.
The coordinator rooted for quality population for a prosperous Kenya, noting that data is key in understanding and ensuring the needs of the population like education, job opportunities, heath that will go a long way to promote quality life for women, adolescents and others.
“Data is important as it informs decision making among policy makers, we should create awareness and advocate for population and development issues specifically on the social impact of the triple threat (pregnancy, new HIV infection and sexual and gender-based violence) among adolescents,” alluded Kipchirchir.
He further noted the need to advocate for safeguarding of adolescents, youth and women empowerment and to strengthen collaboration, coordination and partnerships in the implementation of population programmes in the country.
Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr. Eddyson Nyale affirmed the government’s commitment to implementing development to reach out to every person across the country according to the population data, that is why it carries out Census every 10 years to determine what and how to have effective plans to address the needs of its people.
In her remarks, NACADA North Rift Regional Coordinator Eunice Arubia expressed concern over effects of drug and substance abuse among the youth, noting that it imposes a huge impact on the reproductive health as the youth over-indulge in drugs, which renders them unproductive both sexually and at work.
She called on the youth to stay away from drugs and alcohol and consider taking part in other recreational activities like games and sports in order to reclaim their reproductive health.
“For our youth if we do not take care, we shall not have husbands to our daughters in future, alcohol and drugs leads to poor decision making, miraa causes insomnia which leads to loss of lives from road accidents, addiction makes men to forget their marital responsibilities, thus, who will take care of women and children?,” posed Arubia.