Parents should talk to their children about reproductive health at an early age as a way of preparing them for the future.

The call was made yesterday by Mireille Batamuriza, in charge of health at Imbuto Foundation, during the launch a handbook that can help parents talk with their children about their sexual and reproductive health.

Reports shows that the reproductive health dialogue between parents and children is still a big challenge in Rwanda, which is the basic reason for the rise in teenage pregnancies.

She said that before setting the guidelines they had a talk with some parents and children to understand the gap which persists and to search for possible solutions.

"Every child in its respective stage of life, has to be taught reproductive health issues. For example, a 3-year old children like to take off their clothes and touch on their sexual organs. Most of the parents beat them or they brutally tell them that it’s not nice. But the right way to help them to pass through this stage of life should be to talk kindly, telling them that it’s not good to show their nudes, or asking them to never let anyone touch them,” she said.

Emmanuel Bizumuremyi from Bugesera District said parents should be role models to their children.

"We always tell the children to behave well while we, parents misbehave in front of them. Don’t expect any positive results if you do the opposite,” he said.

Vestine Nakure the president of Umugoroba w’Ababyeyi in Rwakaramira village, in Bugesera said normally they hardly talk about reproductive health and people don’t understand it very well.

"We are glad we now have guidelines to help us to talk to our children. We will use it to teach parents how to establish dialogue between them and their children,” she said.

Claudine Uwera Kanyamanza said parents have to fulfill their role vis a vis their children including giving them all they need and good education to help them prepare for a better future.

She thanked Imbuto Foundation for preparing the reproductive health guidelines and asked parents to use it to help the young generation to be more responsible and safe for the future Rwanda.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw