UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, eight-member delegation to Kenya in partnership with UNFPA, MSI Reproductive Choices, and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has today concluded its study tour to gain insights on advancements and in reproductive health .
The study tour started in April 9th after the team met with CS Health Aden Duale to discuss Kenya’s progress in accelerating health sector towards grassroot levels, exploring strategies for increased funding , health awareness campaigns that will strengthen Kenya’s Taifa Care Model.
The members of parliament further engaged key stakeholders, including healthcare workers, civil society advocates, members of parliament, and youth-led organizations, to understand their perspectives and concerns in the current global context.
The team led by Labour MP for Stafford, Eccleshall, and the villages, and delegation lead, Ms. Leigh Ingham, visited health facilities offering maternal health and family planning services in Nairobi and Homa Bay and programmes supported by the UK government, offering firsthand insights into the delivery of sexual and reproductive health services in Kenya.
Ms. Leigh affirmed the grassroot work of uplifting the women and girls health which she cited as quite impactful to the society at large.
“The work that partners are doing on the ground in Kenya is inspiring and will no doubt have an impact on not just the health of women and girls but on the economy too. From my experience, when we lift up women and girls, everyone benefits,” she said.
Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage(UHC) is leveraging on SDG number 17 which is anchored in robust bilateral and multilateral relations in the healthcare sector with the aim of prioritising citizen’s equal health provision.
Key issues that notably emerged from the study tour included the critical role of adequate national budget allocations for sexual and reproductive health and rights, health sector reforms, and the need for continued multi-lateral support.
The delegation noted that it is committed to raising awareness of the issues raised by Kenya in the UK Parliament while advocating for stronger global partnerships to advance sexual and reproductive health.
The UK-delegation tour provided an in-depth look at Kenya’s sexual and reproductive health and rights landscape, highlighting both the progress made and persistent challenges encountered in ensuring universal access to family planning, reducing teen pregnancies, HIV prevention, and addressing gender-based violence, including Female Genital Mutilation.
Leave a comment