He said it was imperative that rural youths, like their counterparts in urban areas where information and education on reproductive health education was widely available, were given an opportunity to acquire as much relevant knowledge about their growth, development and future.

``There is dire need for health services for youths in rural areas, where infrastructure problems and friendly information and health services for them are lacking�we need to sensitize the youth on their rights to reproductive health,`` said Dr Bishanga.

Acquiring appropriate knowledge on reproductive health among youths was key to enabling them achieve a status of being able to access useful information and education materials for current and future use.

Additionally, the programme manager said, the initiative aimed at enabling the youth, after gaining the required knowledge, to be able to accept and live by it and in the end fight for it, where necessary.

On methods employed, Dr Bishanga said officers in programme areas reached out to the youths through meetings and other youth forums under close facilitation of technical experts from MST and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The programme, he said, was also using expertise of health practitioners in the country`s health system in the respective districts in various public dispensaries, health centres and hospitals where target groups visited for health and other essential services.

Among major lessons gathered over the last two years of the programme implementation included difficulties that programme officers face in reaching out, delivering information and imparting relevant education on youths in livestock-keeping communities.

SOURCE: Guardian