Rising Teen Pregnancies and HIV Rates Push Urgency Ahead of RHNK Conference in Mombasa
In picture, Nelly Munyasia, Executive Director, Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK), making her remarks during a press briefing, ahead of the 8th Pan-African Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Scientific Conference.
By Aoma Keziah,
The Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, will host the 8th Pan-African Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR) Scientific Conference, scheduled for June 24th to 27th 2025 in Mombasa
Ahead of the conference, speakers addressed pressing challenges in youth sexual and reproductive health across Africa, including the rise in adolescent pregnancies, the spread of HIV, and persistent obstacles to accessing healthcare services.
“The 8th RHNK Pan-African AYSRHR Conference is a rallying point for Africa’s youth and those who work alongside them. We’re building a united front to ensure every young person has access to the health services, education, and support they need to thrive in an increasingly complex world,” said Nelly Munyasia, Executive Director of RHNK.
The session also touched on policy frameworks that could help strengthen youth-friendly reproductive health services across the continent. Organizers emphasized the importance of building systems that work for Africa’s young population more than 60 percent of whom are under the age of 25.
Dr. Mohamed Sheikh, Director General of the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), highlighted that according to the latest Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, one in five women between the ages of 15 and 49 has an unmet need for family planning.
“ Teenage pregnancy remains a major issue, affecting one in six girls between 15 and 19. And too many young people still don’t have access to the kind of comprehensive sexuality education or youth-friendly health services that could make meaningful and impactful difference in their lives. This isn’t just a health problem, but its a development problem. When adolescents lack the knowledge and tools to make informed choices about their health and future, the cost is not just personalists national, we all lose out as a society, as an economy and as a nation,” he explained.
The conference will align its discussions with global priorities, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to health, gender equality, and reducing inequality. RHNK encouraged the media to play an active role in raising awareness and pushing for accountability from decision-makers.
“Enhancing community-level awareness about AYSRHR and its prevention is imperative. Now is the time to confront the new wave of HIV/AIDS, unintended pregnancies, early marriages, gender based violence, and female genital mutilation,” stated Dr. Edward Serem, Head of the Division of Reproductive and Maternal Health, Ministry of Health
The four day conference will bring together youth leaders, researchers, policymakers, and advocates to share ideas and build momentum toward lasting solutions in sexual and reproductive health for young people.
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