health

Sept. 29, 2020

LINEO MABEKEBEKE

2 min read

Correct use of contraceptives saves lives - LPPA

Correct use of contraceptives saves lives - LPPA

UNFPA Representative to Lesotho Dr Marc Derveeuw

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WITH so many birth control options available, choosing the most suitable form can be discouraging for many teens, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA) ’Mamojela Koneshe has said.

Delivering her keynote address at a workshop on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) on Monday in Maseru, Mrs Koneshe said the world contraception theme centres around a vision where every pregnancy is wanted.

The one-day workshop was also held as part of commemoration of the World Contraception Day (WCD), which is celebrated every year on September 26.

Launched in 2007, the WCD’s mission is to improve awareness of all contraceptive methods available and enable young people to make informed choices on their sexual and reproductive health.

As LPPA, Mrs Koneshe said they strongly believe that correct and consistent use of contraceptives save lives of mothers and prevent unsafe abortions, thus helping every family to achieve its goals.

She further noted that LPPA remains committed to its mission that every pregnancy must be planned and wanted.

“Our mission is centred around what is termed ‘four too’s,’ namely; no pregnancy should happen too early, no pregnancy should happen too late, no pregnancy should happen too often and no woman should carry too many pregnancies,” she also noted.

She added that it is their call to ensure that every woman enjoys her right to decide on when and how many pregnancies she wants to carry.

Speaking at the same event, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative to Lesotho Dr Marc Derveeuw showed that for one, (especially women) to have the opportunity to choose which family planning method they want is extremely important.

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Dr Derveeuw said having the opportunity to choose the number of children one wants is also important and is an essential right.

For girls having the opportunity to decide when to become mothers he said is an important right in SRHR.

For his part, the Deputy Minister of Health Nto Moakhi said there are issues which are traumatising if they are not properly handled.

He further showed that there are other issues which if well-handled and well-disseminated to the young people will be helpful to them.

Mr Moakhi said there are numerous teenagers who drop out of school throughout the country due to unwanted and unplanned pregnancies.

Their lack of proper education prohibits them from accessing vital information about their health and essential rights, he said, adding that it also hides sensitive issues from them, thus destroying their lives as well as future in the process.

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