The Higher Population Council (HPC), in collaboration with Share-Net Jordan, organized a regional meeting to delve into the pressing matters, programs, and challenges concerning reproductive and sexual health. The meeting is a pivotal step in Share-Net Jordan’s expanded engagement at the regional level.
According to an HPC statement released Tuesday, the meeting centered on the comprehensive presentation of three working papers, effectively shedding light on the issues, priorities, challenges, and the existing landscape of reproductive and sexual health in Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon.
The inaugural paper, entitled “Reproductive and Sexual Health in Jordan: Issues and Needs,” was presented by HPC Secretary-General Issa Al-Masara. He comprehensively addressed various aspects of reproductive and sexual health across three distinct life stages: premarital, marital, and aging. The primary objective was to identify pertinent reproductive and sexual health matters, ascertain the research needs, and pinpoint the gaps within policy implementation, programs, and legislation.
The second paper, delivered by Hassan Zaki from the American University in Cairo, provided a detailed overview of the prevailing conditions and dimensions of reproductive and sexual health in Egypt. This comprehensive document outlined the key strategies employed to address reproductive and sexual health issues, while also spotlighting the major stakeholders, ongoing initiatives, and related activities within Egypt.
The third paper, presented by Jocelyn DeJong from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut, offered a thorough analysis of the state of reproductive and sexual health in Lebanon. Her discourse focused on reproductive and sexual health priorities, recent advancements, strategies, and policies aimed at safeguarding reproductive and sexual health rights. Additionally, the paper highlighted the challenges and obstacles hampering access to relevant services, their quality, and the potential for improvement.
The workshop concluded with an engaging dialogue session with the participation of relevant experts and representatives from partnering organizations active in this field within Jordan. The session fostered discussions on regional priorities concerning reproductive and sexual health.
During the dialogue session, the participants underscored the paramount importance of exchanging knowledge between regional countries to enhance reproductive and sexual health across diverse life stages and genders. Moreover, the significance of providing accurate and comprehensive data and information for research and study purposes was emphasized, along with the imperative of improving access to reproductive and sexual health information and services for adolescents.
Addressing common issues within this field, establishing expert working groups at the regional level to study and devise practical measures, as well as integrating reproductive and sexual health concepts into appropriate educational curricula, were recognized as crucial steps.
The meeting witnessed the attendance of representatives from several ministries, institutions, Jordanian universities, and pertinent international entities, collectively demonstrating their commitment to advancing reproductive and sexual health in the region.
Source: Jordan News Agency