Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
By David Bweupe
Hivos Southern Africa Hub has stressed the need to harmonize the age of consent for adolescents to access various health services such as Sexual Reproductive Health services.
Hivos policy, advocacy and campaigns programme officer regional SRHR Fund, Nana Zulu says currently there is no specific policy within the ministry of health that provides for the age of consent to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights services, stating that the age of consent is different for specific services.
Ms Zulu says this has placed the healthcare provider in a dilemma when an adolescent comes to seek services as they have to look at the protection aspect of the minor seeking services.
She states that healthcare providers are facing legal and ethical dilemmas that need to be clarified to enable them provide services to adolescents.
Ms Zulu says it’s for this reason that Hivos decided earlier this year to launch the campaign dubbed: “#Consent2Access Campaign” in order to raise the gaps,challenges and evidence to inform decision making.
She says Hivos wants to ensure that no one is left behind in terms of the conversation on age of consent by bringing onboard parents and young people who need the information and services to speak for themselves on what their needs are and how they can be addressed.
Ms Zulu notes that the issue of age of consent is a huge barrier to access to SRHR services by adolescents in Zambia.