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| Dr. Kenneth Kaunda |
REPRODUCTIVE Health knowledge must be passed on from one generation to another with strict advice or instruction for adherence to the traditional norms, says Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.
Addressing the International Planned Parenthood Federation organised intergenerational dialogue between adults and the young in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Kaunda said teaching of reproductive health should be done in a manner that was consistent with Africans’ traditions and customs.
“For instance, in our African culture, when a girl comes of age, the older women who in my language, Bemba, are known as Bana chimbusa, would confine her for a certain period during which time they impart to her information on her Rights as a female and on how to look after herself including her responsibilities in marriage,” Dr. Kaunda said. “Similarly the boys got much of their information from their uncles and other older persons at settings known as Insaka in my language. It is important for me to mention that this knowledge is passed on from one generation to another with strict advice or instruction for adherence to these traditional norms. As a result the young people are brought up in such traditional settings where they know they have certain responsibilities in their behaviour and conduct.”
Dr. Kaunda warned that Africa risk losing some of its rich traditions, which were necessary for the moral upbringing of its young if the young continue to adopt Western cultures without reservations.
He observed that some African traditions had unfortunately been lost due to global media influence such as television, which in most cases depict western culture, which the young people copy without reservations.
“If this trend continues, Africa will lose some of its rich traditions, which are necessary for the moral upbringing of our young,” he said.
Dr. Kaunda said there was need for dialogue between the young and old generation, not only in formal setting, but also in different and rich traditional settings as Africans in order to pass on the experience to the younger generation.
He said African countries’ long held traditions placed the responsibility of communicating reproductive health rights to the young people on the older generation. “This has always been done in keeping with our customs and traditions and in settings that take into account gender. In our traditions and customs as Africans this was done on the clear understanding and knowledge that the young people are the future of our societies and nations,” he said.
Dr. Kaunda said the young people particularly in their formative years needed information on their reproductive health.
He said there was need to consider sexual and reproductive Health and Rights as Human Rights.
“ If we do not do this, I am of the view that posterity will judge us harshly, for this world has the knowledge and the capacity to deal with many health issues including those relating to reproductive health. This being the case, there is need for the universal acceptance, recognition and application of the rights of people to sexual and reproductive health so that these Rights are applied universally without reservation by all our countries and societies irrespective of our beliefs and religious doctrines,” he said. “It is important that as we discuss these issues we also listen to the views of the youth. We need to know what they think about our traditions and customs and if they think that some of these traditions need to be revisited in view of evolving global situations where this world has literary become a global village. My view though is that even if this is the case, there is need for us to keep and adhere strictly to our rich
traditions and customs which have since time immemorial been beneficial to our societies. “
Addressing the International Planned Parenthood Federation organised intergenerational dialogue between adults and the young in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Kaunda said teaching of reproductive health should be done in a manner that was consistent with Africans’ traditions and customs.
“For instance, in our African culture, when a girl comes of age, the older women who in my language, Bemba, are known as Bana chimbusa, would confine her for a certain period during which time they impart to her information on her Rights as a female and on how to look after herself including her responsibilities in marriage,” Dr. Kaunda said. “Similarly the boys got much of their information from their uncles and other older persons at settings known as Insaka in my language. It is important for me to mention that this knowledge is passed on from one generation to another with strict advice or instruction for adherence to these traditional norms. As a result the young people are brought up in such traditional settings where they know they have certain responsibilities in their behaviour and conduct.”
Dr. Kaunda warned that Africa risk losing some of its rich traditions, which were necessary for the moral upbringing of its young if the young continue to adopt Western cultures without reservations.
He observed that some African traditions had unfortunately been lost due to global media influence such as television, which in most cases depict western culture, which the young people copy without reservations.
“If this trend continues, Africa will lose some of its rich traditions, which are necessary for the moral upbringing of our young,” he said.
Dr. Kaunda said there was need for dialogue between the young and old generation, not only in formal setting, but also in different and rich traditional settings as Africans in order to pass on the experience to the younger generation.
He said African countries’ long held traditions placed the responsibility of communicating reproductive health rights to the young people on the older generation. “This has always been done in keeping with our customs and traditions and in settings that take into account gender. In our traditions and customs as Africans this was done on the clear understanding and knowledge that the young people are the future of our societies and nations,” he said.
Dr. Kaunda said the young people particularly in their formative years needed information on their reproductive health.
He said there was need to consider sexual and reproductive Health and Rights as Human Rights.
“ If we do not do this, I am of the view that posterity will judge us harshly, for this world has the knowledge and the capacity to deal with many health issues including those relating to reproductive health. This being the case, there is need for the universal acceptance, recognition and application of the rights of people to sexual and reproductive health so that these Rights are applied universally without reservation by all our countries and societies irrespective of our beliefs and religious doctrines,” he said. “It is important that as we discuss these issues we also listen to the views of the youth. We need to know what they think about our traditions and customs and if they think that some of these traditions need to be revisited in view of evolving global situations where this world has literary become a global village. My view though is that even if this is the case, there is need for us to keep and adhere strictly to our rich
traditions and customs which have since time immemorial been beneficial to our societies. “
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