A nationwide community sensitisation on males’ involvement in sexual and reprouductive health issues kicked off last Wednesday at Baja Kunda village, Upper River Region.

The WHO funded-awareness campaign is being conducted by the National Reproductive and Child Health Unit at the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with regional health management teams and Governors.

Speaking at the gathering at Baja Kunda Village, Omar Khan, Governor of Upper River Region, said men should serve to bring about improvement on reproductive health. Governor Khan stressed that men as leading decision-makers should empower women and their families on sexual and reproductive health. He urged his male folks to put the health of their families as their main priority, especially pregnant women.

He also told the men to support community health activities, before calling on all the Chiefs and Alkalolu in his jurisdiction to play a lead role in reproductive health issues.

Bakary Jaguraga, Deputy Programme Manager of the National Reproductive and Child Health Unit, said the WHO-backed sensitisation seeks to encourage men to become more informed about reproductive and child health issues in order to enable them render timely support to their partners. Mr. Jaguraga said “it is the duty of men to give physical, financial and moral support to women during pregnancy to prevent anaemia-related complications”.

Sheriff Jammeh, Senior Community Health Nurse Tutor, informed the meeting that 11 maternal deaths occurred in 2004, while 19 was recorded in 2006. He described the increased in the prevalence as a cause for concern for health authorities and the region, and therefore, urged the men to redouble their support for women.

Bafoday Jawara, Principal Nursing Officer at the National Reproductive and Child Health Unit also spoke at the meeting.

Similar meetings were conducted at Bawol and Diabugu villages in Upper River Region. The team also held meetings at Jarren, Chamen and Kibiri villages in Central River Region, where similar issues were discussed with the villagers.

The sexual and reproductive health campaign team will convene a string of meetings today in Lower River Region.