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The culture of silence
on issues of sexuality and reproduction cuts across all cultures in
Nigeria; in some more than others. Majority of the people is uncomfortable
in discussing issues related to sexuality and reproduction. This has
resulted in poor or abject lack of information on sexual and reproductive
health and rights among Nigerians including policy makers at all
levels.
These
tendencies continue to gain ground as a result of international campaigns
by conservatives and fundamentalist bastardizing the term’s sexual and
reproductive rights. They have continued to frustrate efforts to put
global policies on sexual and reproductive rights in place, which could be
used at country level to improve sexual and reproductive health. The
campaigns have re-enforced negative and sometimes confrontational
attitudes among Nigerians towards information education on reproductive
and sexual health and rights with devastating effects especially on
vulnerable groups which include adolescents, women, people with
disabilities. Etc.
Denial of the
importance of and necessity for sexual and reproductive rights, lack of
laws, policies, infrastructure and the political will to address
reproductive and sexual health needs, continue to have devastating effects
on Nigerians. These include among others, the exponential rise in HIV/AIDS
and STDs among young people, maternal mortality and morbidity from unsafe
abortions and lack of quality maternal care and sexual violence.
Addressing these call for immediate action.
1. To
sensitive communities, policy makers at all level to sexual and
reproductive rights.
2. To provide
sexual and reproductive health service to women and
adolescents.
3. To promote
safer sex behaivour among community members thereby reducing their risk to
HIV/ADS.
4. To set up
support groups for people living in abuse condition, especially people
living with AIDS and survivors of sexual violence.(increse)
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