Parliament, on August 4, passed a new health service bill allowing girls aged 15 and above to access contraceptive services and sets out specific regulations governing surrogacy as a recognized form of assisted reproductive technology permitted in Rwanda.
The legislation aims to tackle the country’s growing challenge of teenage pregnancy where in 2024 alone, more than 22,454 pregnancies among girls under 18 were recorded.
Many of these teens lacked access to accurate information, family planning options, or faced abuse.
“This reform is a lifesaving intervention,” said Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Health. “It aligns with our national strategy to reduce maternal deaths, protect girls’ futures, and ensure every young person can make informed health decisions.”
Before this reform, girls under 18 needed parental or guardian approval to receive contraceptives despite being legally allowed to seek abortion services under specific conditions. Critics called this a harmful contradiction that left thousands of girls unprotected.
Dr. Claudine Mukamurenzi, a reproductive health officer at Sake Health Center in Ngoma District, said: “We’ve seen too many young girls come in already pregnant. Allowing access at 15 means we can finally reach them in time, before it’s too late.”
While some lawmakers and faith-based organizations raised concerns about encouraging early sexual behavior, supporters of the bill emphasized that the goal is not to promote sex but to prevent harm, exploitation, and school dropouts.
Pichou Byiringiro / The Kaminuza Star