Hey all, MaryBeth back again for the fourth installment of our FP2030 Daily Dispatch from Women Deliver!
Wednesday was more paradise for gender nerds and fans of sexual and reproductive health and rights at the Kigali Convention Center (KCC), with the FP2030 team buzzing around side events, concurrent sessions, and exhibit hall education spaces – we even showed up as a destination in a fun scavenger hunt hosted by our friends at PMNCH.
But the action extended beyond the distinctive beehive of the KCC.
A dynamic group of 11 FP2030 youth focal points, led by FP2030 East and Southern Africa Regional Hub Youth Partnerships Officer Gloria Masula, ventured out to get a personal look at the progress made in Rwanda in postpartum family planning and youth-friendly services. In three hospital visits, the focal points learned how Rwanda has prioritized teen pregnancy interventions, including safe abortion for eligible youth, through the development of clear guidelines. These one-stop centers offer all services that young and teenage mothers could need, including postpartum family planning, and the center also offers connections to law enforcement if desired in the case of rape. Young people in Rwanda can access youth-friendly services in every hospital because of these forward-looking policies.
Energized by the visit, the focal points are eager to share the lessons – including how Rwandan health workers have overcome common challenges – upon return to their countries. One said, “This visit couldn’t have come at a better time. It was very educational!”
Our team is grateful to Emery Hezagira, Director of the Community Health Unit, who helped identify the sites, and Joel Serucaca, community Family Planning Officer who accompanied the group.
Stay tuned in the coming months as FP2030 releases a refreshed strategy that reaffirms our commitment to center the needs and rights of young people!
Back in the beehive, I was contemplating how we can make sure governments like Rwanda’s connect their commitments to FP2030 and their commitments to the Generation Equality Forum (GEF). GEF is nearing its midpoint, and Women Deliver offers a terrific opportunity to take stock. A panel of commitment makers to the Action Coalition on Bodily Autonomy and SRHR shared their progress spurred by GEF. From research on SRHR information and access for people with disabilities in Pacific Islands to youth-led fairs to share information on comprehensive sexuality education, GEF commitments have generated some exciting results. As a GEF commitment maker ourselves, FP2030 sees every day the potential of synergies between our partnerships.
This has been an exciting week, and our team is looking forward to taking these lessons, inspiration, and encouragement back to our roles in the new FP2030 Global Support Network.
