Kwara: NGO canvasses more attention to adolescents’ health issues

Kwara State Government has been charged to invest more and appropriately in the health and development of adolescents and young people in the state.

The Executive Director of a Non Governmental Organisation, Women Environment and Youth Development Initiative, Mrs. Tosin Apiriola Ajayi, gave the charge on Monday in Ilorin, the state capital, at the media dialogue session on promoting the integration of Adolescents and Youth Friendly Health Services in Primary Health Care Centres in Nigeria.

Mrs. Ajayi, who also urged the Federal government to invest more in the health and development of the young ones, said such health services must have the standard and qualities that young people seek.

According to her, research conducted last year revealed that adolescent and youth specific healthcare services are not available at the Primary Healthcare Centres across Kwara state, while the existing ones at the five secondary health centres are not well equipped to function maximally.

Mrs. Ajayi, who is also the Kwara state coordinator of the Novel Association for Youth Advocacy in Nigeria, said common adolescent health and development issues in the state have been found to be substance use and abuse of codeine, tramadol and weed, teenage pregnancies, female Genital Mutilation, HIV, unsafe abortion, under-nutrition, and rape challenges.

She therefore called on Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders such as the media, religious and traditional leaders, as well as development partners to kick start and support rapid advocacy drive on the supply and integration of Adolescents Youth Friendly Health Services Into the Primary Healthcare Centres in the state to meet the needs of the young people.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Women Friendly Initiative, Dr. Francis Eremutha, represented by Mrs. Rosemary Adaji, advocated the need for both federal and state governments to establish governance framework and strengthen accountability structure at local government and community levels towards providing input for the management of Adolescents Youth Friendly Health Services at primary health care level.