Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Charlotte Scott
The 2nd regional Symposium on Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and HIV in Africa was last evening opened in Lusaka with the Acting First Lady Charlotte Scott calling for more concerted efforts in addressing adolescent challenges.
The four days symposium has attracted over one thousand delegates from different parts of the African continent.
The symposium is aimed at interrogating evidence and research on issues affecting adolescents in the African region, and gain significant commitment to programmes and interventions beyond 2015.
Speaking during the official opening of the symposium, Acting First Lady Charlotte Scott says Africa needs more and concerted efforts to reduce child and adolescent sexual abuses and stop early marriages.
Dr. Scott says Africa also needs to put a stop to new HIV infections among adolescents, need to increase the quantity and quality of adolescents and youthful friendly reproductive health services.
Dr. Scott states Africa needs to act and serve the future of the families, communities, nations, continents and world at large.
Speaking at the same event, the Society for AIDS in Africa Representative Dr. Chintu Namwinga says the Society will continue to work with relevant stakeholders in coming up with workable solutions to address adolescent burdens in Africa.
Dr. Namwinga says there is need to listen to what the youths are saying so as to help them come up with solutions to address issues that affect them deeply.
And National organizing committee chairperson Professor Kumar Baboo says the regional symposium is intended to enhance greater attention and commitment to addressing Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and HIV issues in context of the expanding youth population on the African continent.
Reporting by Albert Mpezeni