+255 739 210 598
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eannaso@eannaso.org
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Plot # 595, Themi Nanenane, Njiro Road
P.O. Box 6187- 23109 Arusha, Tanzania
Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) in Africa is a critical area of public health that addresses the unique needs and challenges faced by young people.
With a rapidly growing youth population, many African countries are experiencing significant pressure to provide adequate health education, services, and support to adolescents. Comprehensive sex education is often lacking, leading to misinformation and risky behaviors. Early marriage, gender-based violence, and high rates of teenage pregnancy further complicate the landscape, contributing to high maternal and infant mortality rates. Cultural taboos and limited access to contraceptives exacerbate these issues, preventing young people from making informed decisions about their reproductive health.
Efforts to improve ASRH in Africa are underway, driven by governmental and non-governmental organizations. Initiatives focus on increasing access to sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, safe abortion, and maternal care. Programs also emphasize the importance of education, aiming to keep girls in school and reduce the prevalence of child marriages. Community engagement is crucial, as it helps to shift cultural norms and reduce the stigma associated with adolescent sexuality. By empowering young people with knowledge and resources, these efforts seek to foster a healthier, more informed generation capable of making autonomous decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives.
We know that adolescents face numerous challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services. Under the Solutions for Supporting Healthy Adolescents and Rights Protection (SHARP) funded by the European Union, EANNASO in collaboration with other partners advocating for SRH services and commodities under the 3As and Q:
The Solutions for Supporting Healthy Adolescents and Rights Protection (SHARP) programme unites various organizations, including experts in adolescent health, gender, SRH, and faith, who have a strong track record in research and advocacy for positive policy change. SHARP collaborates with policymakers, the private sector, faith leaders, influencers, and adolescents to enhance access to SRH services and commodities, aiming for lasting health and well-being improvements, especially for adolescent girls.
Funded by the European Union, SHARP is a four-year initiative focused on improving adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) and addressing unmet family planning needs. It operates in six countries in Africa’s Great Lakes Region: Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia. SHARP gathers organizations experienced in advocacy to improve budgets and policy implementation at various levels. The primary goal is to enhance the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of SRH services and commodities for adolescents, particularly girls while increasing demand for these services through religious and socio-cultural interventions.
