Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Swedish Parliamentarians with Zambia Vice President Inonge Wina
Visiting Swedish Parliamentarians have observed that there is a lot that Zambia and Sweden can learn from each other on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Speaking on behalf of his fellow Swedish MPs during a media briefing shortly after a round table discussion with their Zambian counterparts at Parliament buildings today, Annika Lillemets says so far, they have discovered many similarities between the work they have done in Sweden and the work being done in Zambia and the struggle for equal rights.
Ms. Lillemets says they realise that Zambia also has challenges, but however notes that they can learn a lot from each other on issues of sexual and reproductive health and continue having a good cooperation.
She adds that they have had a good and interesting time in Zambia and is hopeful that they will take what they have learnt to Sweden.
And speaking on behalf of Zambian parliamentarians, Mumbwa Member of Parliament Brian Chituwo says as the Millennium Development Goals come to an end later this year, the country is assessing how many of the MDGs it has achieved.
Mr. Chituwo says it is not a secret that family planning is one component of sexual reproductive health and rights which impacts either positively or negatively on the social economic development of the nation.
He says the country’s focus among the many things discussed has been the commitment of Zambia at the London summit in 2012 that of scaling up family planning services where the country has to increase the contraceptive prevalence from 27% to 58%.
Mr. Chituwo further states that they have learnt from Sweden the road they have taken with regards to sexual and reproductive health which could be of help to Zambia.