First Lady Jeannette Kagame yesterday attended the First Ladies’ Session on Reproductive Health which took place on the sidelines of 27th edition of Africa-France Summit in Bamako, Mali.

The session was held under the theme, "Positive Traditional and Cultural Practices Serving to Promote Reproductive Health”, with participating First Ladies sharing experiences specific to their countries in line with influencing public health policies.

The First Ladies’ Session was an opportunity for First Ladies from various nations including Mali, Chad, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Madagascar, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone, to further a number of actions they support, in the fields of health, education, socio-economic empowerment, and protection of the environment, in their respective countries.

The forum’s concept is built on the rationale that in Africa, each community has knowledge on sexual reproductive health, which is constantly enriched through experience with intention to optimise the survival and welfare of the community members.

Aware that traditions and cultures have an impact on health, and traditional practices on issues of health are indispensable, the session was tailored to seek sustainable development policies in the area.

At the forum, traditional practices for positive behavioural change were highlighted, with the aim to promote positive practices such as family planning, care of the pregnant mother and the young child, harmonious relationships and access to reliable health services to advance the reproductive health of the general population.

African first ladies meet regularly to further a number of actions they support, in the fields of health, education, socio-economic empowerment, and protection of the environment, in their respective countries.

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