Kathmandu, September 30:

Lack of harmony between the donors, NGOs and the government bodies working in the field of sexual and reproductive health issues of young people has led to ineffecient programmes, experts said today. Millions of rupees are being funnelled through several donors into the young peoples’ sexual and reproductive health sector, but the projects in the field have not yielded expected results because of lack of harmony between the stakeholders — the donors, the NGOs and the government bodies, experts said while speaking at a workshop organised by the Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN) in the capital today.

The work so far done in the sector has helped increase the level of information on HIV and other sexual and reproductive health issues, but the youth are still vulnerable as their level of skill on preventing HIV, including STI transmission, is very poor, said Dr Khem Karki, executive director, Society for Local Integrated Development Nepal. Presenting an advocacy paper on Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Information / Education to Adolescent and Youth and Role of government organisations and non-government organisations in meeting their SRH needs, Dr Karki underscored the need of strengthening the network of organisations working in the sector.

“If we look at government policies and programmes, they have been framed well but in practice, there prevails big gap at different levels,” Dr Karki said. Government is yet to consider adolescent and youth’s sexual and reproductive health as a priority sector, Karki said adding: there is no budget for the sector. Compared to global facts, Nepal remains quite ahead in terms of developing policies, plans and strategies but there are very few activities that are implemented over the target groups, Karki added. Hari Khanal, chief executive officer at FPAN said, the workshop would hold significance in identifying major constraints in reaching the goals and objectives set by Nepal following the commitments at International Conference on Population and Development.

The workshop would also play an important role to strengthen advocacy efforts for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health rights of adolescents and youth by initiating positive issues, Khanal added. The workshop was participated by more than 30 representatives working in the sector of youths and adolescents, health, government representatives and professors.