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Journalists will gain knowledge to help them provide Rwandans with reliable information on reproductive health
Some journalists who attended the training spoke to Kigali Today and said they are learning knowledge because learning is peace and therefore they believe they will pass on the message to their followers in the media.
One of those who has pursued this career independently, Kwigira Issa, has found that journalists first need to be knowledgeable enough to understand what they are sharing with their followers.
“Until now, my knowledge of reproductive health and that of journalists has been average,” he said. “When you read a story someone has written, you can see that our colleagues and followers don’t have enough knowledge of reproductive health.”
Peace TV reporter Yvette testified that they have acquired the knowledge they need, which will have a positive impact on Nyawanda society.
He said: “I don’t know how many journalists have in-depth knowledge of reproductive health because we found that there are many, but education is comfort and this life people should know the right and enough information to be able to give what you have. We have just learned a lot of new things that we don’t have enough information about, so we hope that when people or some organizations are ready for this education, they will bring experts in this field so that they can show us, see it with our eyes, because basically every day there are innovations related to technology and if you write the story of what you have experienced, it will be easier to understand because you are talking about what you know, even from a humble citizen, and showing it to him by example. Rwandans in general need enough information about reproductive health and as journalists we have been given this information and we will use it”.
Sengoga Christopher, head of the rights and advocacy department at HDI, said that although no studies have been conducted, many Rwandans are still unaware of reproductive health, especially for adolescents and young adults, who should not seek medical attention without their parents, which has led to an increase in the birth rate among adolescents every year.
The Human Development Initiative pastor said: “When you ask real children about reproductive health, they know nothing, you ask them where they grew up and they tell you they grew up in school, you ask their parents and they tell you they don’t understand if what they know is true, so they share it with their children and you find out that it is a problem. Therefore, different journalists get information through different channels and work with relevant authorities including leaders, doctors, parents, teenagers and young people so that the Nyawanda community can make a decision, but they especially want to have enough information to understand the situation at their disposal.
Sengoga said studies conducted in different regions by HAGURUKA, Empower Rwanda and CLADHO showed that very few people have enough accurate information about reproductive health and their rights.
The news that teenagers will be allowed access to family planning and gain insight into reproductive health has sparked controversy, especially as some parents say that allowing their children to access family planning goes against Rwandan values and culture, while others say it is appropriate because times have changed.
Some say that birth control is not important when it comes to letting children have sex, but others say that this is inappropriate because children don’t need birth control and no one needs birth control.
Minister of Youth and Arts Development Dr Jean Nepo Abdallah Utumatwishima has announced that it is time to give young people aged 15 and above access to family planning as part of measures to tackle unwanted teenage pregnancies.
Statistics released by multiple organizations show that 92% of teenage pregnancies occur between the ages of 15 and 18.
Data provided by the Ministry of Equality and Community Development (MIGEPROF) show that the number of children under 19 born in 2018 was 19,832, in 2019 it was 23,628 and in 2020 it was 19,701.
The number of girls aged 15-19 receiving family planning services increased from 27,357 in 2018 to 23,916 in 2019.
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