WINDHOEK – Namibia is among SADC countries that have actively implemented the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHRs), HIV/AIDS and Governance project.
This was revealed at a stakeholder review workshop on the implementation of the SRHRs, HIV/AIDS and Governance project under the SADC Parliamentary Forum (PF).
The project ran from October 2016 to March 2018.
In November 2014, the Swedish and Norwegian governments approved a four-year grant to the SADC PF for the implementation of SRHRs, HIV/AIDS commitments by seven SADC governments through their national parliaments.
The long-term vision of the project is equitable universal access to SRHR and related rights and HIV/AIDS services, including improved health and respect for human rights.
Speaking during the review meeting, Boemo Sekgoma the Acting Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum commended the Namibian parliament for not “disappointing” despite being roped in at the last minute.
Sekgoma explained Namibia did what it could to ensure the objectives were implemented even though other SADC countries had already been in the programme much longer.
“Namibia produced results for the two years that it took on the project. The media in Namibia has been more active compared to other countries. They published a lot of articles on gender-based violence, child marriages and so much more,” explained Sekgoma.
The Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Gender Equality, Social Development and Family Affairs, Gotthard Kasuto said joining the project late did not limit Namibian parliamentarians to promote SRHR, HIV/AIDS and other related issues.
“The advocacy, lobbying and awareness activities should by no means end with the end of this noble project,” added Kasuto.
Kasuto undertook to ensure that issues on SRHR feature prominently on activities of all committees by integrating activities of SRHR and HIV/AIDS into their programmes. The aim of the review workshop was to assess the implementation of SRHR during that period.
The review workshop also aimed to identify bottlenecks and recommend innovative approaches that will seek to improve the implementation of the project in future.
The aim was also to develop country specific domestication strategies to ensure sustainability.