[Photo Courtesy: KBC]
The Ministry of Health has launched a five-year reproductive health priority research and learning agenda as it moves to bridge evidence gaps during the development of health policies.
The agenda, developed through the division of reproductive and maternal health, seeks to guide the conduct of reproductive health research and improve the coordination of Reproductive health research and programmatic activities.
Speaking during the launch of the document, the head of the department of Family health at the ministry Dr. Isaack Bashir said the research agenda will reduce duplication and allow for prudent utilization of available resources besides guiding health sector players in addressing existing gaps in reproductive healthcare delivery.
“What is it that we are not getting right in reproductive health, are existing interventions the best in dealing with current challenges?” posed Dr. Bashir.
He said research prioritization has shown to be particularly useful to help answer strategic and programmatic issues in health care, including Sexual and Reproductive Health.
According to the head of the Reproductive and maternal health division Dr. Stephen Kaliti, research remains the driver of a nation’s curiosity to seek answers on important matters.
He said in-country reproductive health research capacity is key to creating improvements in local implementation of reproductive health programs and can help prioritize reproductive health issues in a landscape of limited funding.