As #Women’sHealthWeek comes to a close, we can’t let it end without touching on #SexualReproductiveHealth as it is at the center of women’s and girls’ rights.

#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR #EveryGirlsRight #EveryWomanCounts #PrioritizeSexualHealth

In this #thread we take a look at will take a further look at the importance of every girl being #educated on #SRHR and having access to healthcare services. We will equally address the #misinformation that hinders access to #healthcare.

#SexualHealthMatters #EveryGirlsRight

@UNFPA defines good sexual and reproductive health as, “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system.”

#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR #EveryGirlsRight #EveryWomanCounts #PrioritizeSexualHealth

As healthcare systems have become overwhelmed due to the ongoing #pandemic, the specific sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls have been deprioritized. Putting women’s sexual and reproductive health at risk.

#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR #PrioritizeSexualHealth

This is not ideal especially for marginalized women and girls who are need special medical attention like those are pregnant and those who are victims of harmful practices such as #FGM.

#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR #EveryGirlsRight #EveryWomanCounts #PrioritizeSexualHealth

It is especially risky for the millions of girls and women worldwide who already experience living in crisis or conflict zones, and for those who are already marginalized.

#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR #EveryGirlsRight #EveryWomanCounts #PrioritizeSexualHealth

Poor and marginalized women face greater difficulty in protecting themselves from the transmission of STD’s and STI’s due to lack of information, resources, and access to quality health and social services.

#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR #EveryGirlsRight #EveryWomanCounts

@UN_Women notes, that evidence from past epidemics, including #Ebola and #Zika, indicate that efforts to contain outbreaks often divert resources from routine health services including pre- and post-natal healthcare and #contraceptives.

#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR

This unfortunately exacerbates the often already limited access women and girls have to sexual and reproductive health services.

#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR #EveryGirlsRight #EveryWomanCounts #PrioritizeSexualHealth

Despite the #Covid19 pandemic, women still need access to clean and safe maternal health facilities and should be able to get treatment throughout all stages of #pregnancy. Lack of this access can produce complications and may lead to #maternaldeaths.
#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR

In #Kenya, even prior to the ongoing #COVID19 pandemic the nation was struggling with maternal healthcare. According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey,2014. Kenya’s rate of preventable maternal deaths was at 362 per 100,000 live births which is very high.

#SRHR

Contributing factors to this alarming rate included the fact that too many women in kenya DO NOT HAVE ACCESS to modern #contraceptives and too many adolescents and young people are getting pregnant and getting infected with #HIV.

Fortunately, since 2014 #Kenya has made strides in advancing the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls.

#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR #EveryGirlsRight #EveryWomanCounts #PrioritizeSexualHealth

According to @MOH_Kenya, in 2019, Kenya hit its target #contraceptive prevalence rate among married women of reproductive age. It rose from 53 percent in 2014 to 61 percent, surpassing its 2020 target of 58 percent.
#SexualHealthMatters #EveryWomanCounts #PrioritizeSexualHealth

That is just one example of the many milestones being achieved as it pertains to #SRHR, however, we still have a long way to go and we cannot afford for the #Covid19 pandemic to slow us down and undo the progress made.

#SexualHealthMatters #EveryWomanCounts #SRHR

So how can we push for a world where all girls have access to #SRHR resources. And are well equipped with knowledge? #FoodForThought

#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR #EveryGirlsRight #EveryWomanCounts #PrioritizeSexualHealth

Though there is no standard solution, here are some things we can do that are generally deemed to be helpful in many cases and can help us improve the sexual and reproductive health of women worldwide.
#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR #EveryGirlsRight #EveryWomanCounts

We must also continue to appeal to our #governments and #policymakers to keep the needs of women & girls front and center as they draft responses to this #pandemic especially when it comes to healthcare for the marginalized.

#SRHR #EveryGirlsRight #EveryWomanCounts

Access needs to #healthcare be free-flowing for all women despite the #pandemic and it needs to be easily affordable.

#SexualHealthMatters #SRHR #EveryGirlsRight #EveryWomanCounts #PrioritizeSexualHealth