By Ermiyas Males
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) stands as a significant milestone in Africa’s journey towards economic integration. As nations unite to bolster trade ties, it is imperative to ensure that this pursuit of economic growth goes hand in hand with social development. Within this context, one crucial facet that demands attention is the protection and promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) across the continent.
The AfCFTA offers a unique opportunity to seamlessly integrate SRHR into Africa’s trade and development agenda. This integration can be achieved through the alignment of policies, collaborative efforts, and capacity enhancement. It calls for concerted action from national governments and regional entities to seamlessly weave SRHR considerations into trade policies, investment pacts, and regulatory frameworks. The involvement of stakeholders from the private sector, civil society organizations, and the healthcare domain is pivotal in facilitating dialogue and formulating strategies to effectively address SRHR challenges.
In many African countries, a significant barrier to achieving comprehensive SRHR is the limited access to healthcare services. It is imperative to bolster health systems, making contraceptives more accessible, enhancing maternal health services, and expanding programs to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. Channeling investments into healthcare infrastructure, providing training to healthcare professionals, and optimizing supply chains for SRHR commodities emerge as vital steps to ensure that these services are accessible equitably across the continent.
Unquestionably, numerous SRHR challenges in Africa are deeply entrenched within sociocultural norms and practices that perpetuate gender disparities and curtail women’s autonomy. Confronting these issues mandates efforts to challenge harmful practices such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, and gender-based violence. This requires a multi-pronged approach involving advocacy campaigns, community engagement, and targeted interventions. Moreover, engaging traditional and religious leaders as advocates for change is of paramount importance in effecting shifts in social norms and ensuring sustainable advancements in SRHR.
In summation, the AfCFTA provides an unparalleled opportunity to holistically address SRHR issues, recognizing the intrinsic interlinkage between economic development and social progress. By seamlessly integrating SRHR considerations into trade policies, enhancing access to services, advocating for comprehensive sexuality education, and challenging detrimental sociocultural norms, African nations can cultivate an environment that prioritizes the health and rights of all individuals. This endeavor necessitates a cohesive and collaborative endeavor involving governments, regional bodies, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Only through such unified actions can Africa truly harness the inclusive and sustainable benefits that the AfCFTA promises to deliver.
Ermiyas Males is a Youth Advocate in SRHR at NAYA. SAIC II
