By Kemi Yesufu
…… Seeks Increased Investment in Young People
…….FG Sets 12-14 As Age For Receiving Sexual Reproductive Health Preventive Services
The Society for Adolescent and Young People’s Health in Nigeria (SAYPHIN), in
collaboration with its partners, will be holding the first African and second Nigerian Conference on Adolescent Health and Development, from Wednesday 18th to
Saturday 21stAugust 2021, at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja
President of SAYPHIN and Vice President Sub-Saharan Africa for the International Association for
Adolescent Health (IAAH), Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, announced the date for the conference at a media briefing held on Wednesday in Abuja.
Describing the conference as long overdue Fatusi said Africa is the only region in the world that is yet to hold this type of conference on adolescent health, despite the continent having a youth heavy population.
The maiden conference has as its theme: “Fulfilling Promises: Optimizing Investment In
Adolescent in Africa”.
The sub-themes of the 4-day conference are on gender and violence, covid-19,
health and development of young people, young people and non communicable
diseases, sexual and reproductive health and rights, education and capacity building and economic well being, youth involvement and empowerment,
diversity, inclusivity and equality for young people, among others.
“According the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 5,000 young people in
the world die every day. Injuries from road accidents, violence, self harm,
maternal conditions are the leading causes of deaths among adolescents and
young adults. Our investment in Africa has been the lowest in the world
compared to other regions.
“Investment in young people’s health produces high yields leading to healthier
young people and society, reduction in adult deaths because two third of
preventable deaths in adults happen as a result of health risk behaviors initiated
during adolescence and also, it is an investment in the next generation. It is
imperative that we come together and chart the way forward. Hence, the need
for this conference”, Fatusi said.
Representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Ugboko disclosed that the Federal Government has started the implementation of its Strategic Health Development Plan which has five pillars, fifteen priority areas of which adolescent health is number 4 of the priority areas.
He said the plan which is first to be implemented between 2020-2024 has the age of consent for receiving HIV services reduced to fourteen years. This is even as he stated that the new policy permits children between the 12-14 years to be able to receive preventive and promotive services for their sexual reproductive health. He however explained children under the legal age of consent which is 18 years cannot receive treatment or undergo surgery as part of reproductive health services without coming with an adult.
Ugboko said the Federal Government came up with these bold, far reaching policies to improve health outcomes among adolescents. He further said the ministry has carried out a ‘train the trainer’ exercises for Adolescent Health Desk Officers in 17 states, adding that the training will also be conducted in the remaining 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory. He assured that the Federal Government is committed to working with key stakeholders to implement its new policy on adolescent health.
Dr. Adesola Olumide, SAYPHIN Secretary General, who spoke on the role the
association has played in advancing the adolescent agenda in Nigeria, said the
objectives of this conference is to bring together stakeholders which include the
academia, international partners, civil society organizations and the media, to
facilitate the co-creation of a future that promotes the health and wellbeing of
young people and provide a platform for stakeholders who have invested in
adolescents and young people’s development in Africa to forge strategic
alliances.
Also speaking at the media parley, Dr. Amina Dorayi, Country Director of Pathfinder International, advocated for
increased investment in young people’s health in Nigeria and Africa to meet the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and create an egalitarian society that
works for all.
She said: “Young people are the reservoir of talents and the hope we have
for the future of this country and the continent at large. Meeting the needs of
adolescent really entails adopting a panoramic approach because of the wide
spectrum of their needs. Government, taking the driver seat, also needs the
support of different individuals and organizations including the academia, NGOs,
private sector and the young people themselves because there is nothing for
them without them”
13-year-old Ene Naomi Okpe, Girls Advocate at SWAG initiative, talked about
living in Nigeria as a young person by highlighting the challenges and
consequences of paying less attention to the various needs of young people. She
enjoined the media to step up awareness programmes to help amplify the
prospect of investment in young people’s health.
Other partners at the conference who also lent their voices included, Mr. Adonsi
Osaretin, the Assistant Representative UNFPA and Dr Chris Ugboko the Director
and Head of Gender, Adolescents, School Health and Elderly (GASHE) division,
Department of Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health.
The association said recommendations adopted at this conference is intended to
guide Nigeria and Africa in addressing adolescent health and development challenges.
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