WINDHOEK, Namibia - Namibia has a youthful population, with two thirds of the population under the age of 35. The nation has the potential to rip the demographic dividend if we invest in education, health, skills development including employment creation.

However, one of the major obstacles to realising the demographic dividend is the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of adolescents and youth in the country, which is characterised by high rates of adolescent pregnancies and a high proportion of unmet need for family planning. The national teenage pregnancy rate stands at 19%, which means that about every fifth woman aged 15 to 19 has begun childbearing.

To scale up youth access to SRHR services and information, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Society for Family Health (SFH) during the months of May and June 2023 conducted mobile health outreaches targeting underserved populations particularly in rural areas and informal settlements in Khomas, Zambezi, Omaheke, and Kavango East and West regions.  

More than 2 876 adolescents and young people were reached with SRHR information and services, including HIV and gender-based violence. In addition, 720 women and adolescent girls received injectables, and 360 implants were inserted. The assistance was possible because of the contributions from the Government of Japan and UNFPA.