PRESS STATEMENT
February 12, 2026 – Accra
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AWARENESS DAY 2026
Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day 2026 is more than a moment for reflection. It is a demand for bold and sustained action. In an era marked by persistent misinformation, deep-rooted stigma, and unequal access to essential services, the health and dignity of women and young people remain under threat. The need for renewed political will, adequate resourcing, and systemic reform has never been more urgent.
Women, Media and Change (WOMEC) reaffirms that sexual and reproductive health and rights are fundamental human rights. Access to accurate information, quality and responsive healthcare should not be negotiated. Yet, despite global, regional, and national commitments, millions of women and girls continue to face barriers to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services. These gaps fuel preventable maternal health complications, unsafe practices, and far-reaching social and economic consequences.
WOMEC calls on governments and duty bearers to move beyond policy rhetoric to effective implementation. This includes increasing domestic investment in reproductive health, strengthening health systems, and ensuring that adolescent- and youth-friendly services are accessible, affordable, confidential, and free from stigma. Health systems must prioritize early detection, comprehensive sexuality education, and quality care for conditions such as cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections, endometriosis, and other reproductive health challenges that remain underdiagnosed and undertreated.
The media has a critical role to play in driving this agenda. Media institutions must go beyond episodic coverage and consistently elevate sexual and reproductive health as a national priority. Responsible, evidence-based reporting is essential to challenge harmful myths, break the silence surrounding reproductive health, and hold policymakers accountable. Misinformation and neglect must no longer shape public discourse.
Empowerment begins with knowledge, but it must be matched by action. Education must lead to policy reform, adequate budgetary allocations, improved service delivery, and measurable outcomes. Comprehensive sexuality education, protection of reproductive rights, promotion of consent and safe practices, and access to life-saving screenings are urgent necessities—not optional interventions.
On this Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day, WOMEC calls on policymakers, health professionals, educators, media practitioners, and civil society to act with urgency, courage, and accountability. The era of incremental progress has passed. We must accelerate collective action to ensure that every woman and girl can make informed choices about her body, access quality healthcare without discrimination, and live in dignity. Our health is our right. Our rights demand action.
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Signed
Dr. Charity Binka, Executive Director, WOMEC
Contact: 0557952735
