- الثلاثاء, 18 مارس, 2014

During the launching of the training session, Dr. Abdulhakim Al-Sharjabi, rector of Sana’a University spoke about the importance of enhancement the awareness of youth towards the reproductive health and family planning. Fertility in Yemen is high as 7 in average. He stated that the awareness should target both males and females.

Dr. Al-Sharjabi clarified that the family planning awareness needs much efforts as Yemen achieved a lot on this issue before the events of 2011, however as the concentration on politics over development made a setback afterwards. He added that the population growth rating in Yemen is 3.2% and this will be clearly mapped out  during the upcoming Census of 2014. One of the major issues is the early marriage as it causes a lot of social and medical issues.

He concluded that the accessibility of family planning methods for free of charge for all people and especially in rural areas is crucial as 72% of Yemeni people are living in the rural areas where the population growth ratings are extremely high because of drop out of schools and poor health services especially in the family planning services. He added that the youth are the change agents in the community.

Mr. Nabil Al-Ammari, the executive director of YFCA stated on his part that this training is crucial to enhance partnership and communications with Sana’a University to reach out to community through college students. He paid attribute to the cooperation between YFCA and Sana’a University.

Mr. Ahmed Al-Dhabibi, the Counseling and Voluntary Check Up Manager at Aids National Control Program, stated that the HIV is not a medical issue only but a social and economic issues as well. Aids control is a mutual responsibility between Ministry of Health (MoH), Sana’a University (SU) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

Mr. Fares Al-Waeel, the Relief and Surveillance in-charge at YFCA added that this training is conducted as part of the activities of the social marketing for behavioral change for family planning methods and HIV. 

Mr. Ali Al-Malahi, Youth Care Director at SU spotlighted on the importance of the rule of youth in the enhancements of the community awareness on the health issues. There are couples of awareness activities conducted by Sana’a University in cooperation with CSOs. He paid attribute to  the cooperation between SU and YFCA for the good of the community.