Sexual and reproductive health: new skills training for ministry staff and managers

About 20 staff members and managers from the Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship (MINEDUNC) participated in a capacity-building workshop on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues from March 26 to 27.

Trained by the Network of Journalists for Sexual and Reproductive Health (RJSSR), with support from MSI Reproductive Choices and UK International Development, participants strengthened their skills to ensure a rigorous, responsible, and effective approach to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Over the course of two days, the program alternated between presentations, practical workshops, and experience-sharing sessions, enabling participants to strengthen their communication skills and deepen their understanding of SRH-related issues.

From Human Rights to Social Responsibility

Chantal Kabasua, a member of RJSSR and editor of the Journal des Droits humains, highlighted the link between human rights and SRH. She emphasized the importance of ensuring dignity, free choice, and equitable access to health services to reduce maternal mortality and prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Dr. Bushiri Ramazani, for his part, presented the fundamentals of SRHR and the major challenges, including inadequate sex education among young people, the prevalence of gender-based violence, and sociocultural taboos that hinder the adoption of responsible behaviors.

Bibiche Mbete, coordinator of the RJSSR, emphasized the role of the media in promoting civic awareness and the accountability of public decision-makers, noting that the dissemination of reliable information contributes to the adoption of best practices and the improvement of the population’s well-being.

Putting New Knowledge into Practice

At the end of the training, participants welcomed the new knowledge they had gained to better inform the public.

“Sexual and reproductive health often remains a taboo subject and must be addressed responsibly. This training helped me understand that it is a right and that there is a strategic way to convey accurate and useful information,” said Marie Shomba of the MINEDUNC Communication Management Directorate.

This initiative strengthens the capacity of MINEDUNC staff and managers to produce and disseminate responsible educational messages tailored to social and cultural realities, and contributes to improving the information provided to the educational community and the general public.

Marie Shomba & Deleine Diazolakana