Sikirat Shehu
The Olive Community Development Initiatives (OCDI) at the weekend in Ilorin called on the Kwara Government to provide specific budgets line dedicated to Adolescent and youth-friendly health services (AYFHS).
Oluwatoni Adeleke, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation, who made the call during a media conference explained that the Federal Government has committed increased funding for family planning and ensuring youth can use modern contraception.
She explained that the initiative was in collaboration with Novel Association for Youth Advocacy (NAYA), pointing out that Kwara does not have a specific budget line to AYFHS.
Adeleke observed that there is need to integrate and promote AYFHS in PHC facilities across the state.
“Currently, the youth tends to shy away from health facilities with regards to information on sex and contraceptive.
“Service provider attitudes at health facilities often biased, judgemental or hostile towards young people.
“AYFHS attracts young people, respond to their needs and increase the likelihood that they will use the services available yo them.”
Also speaking, Temitope Olaniyi, the Program Manager of OCDI, stated that “among adolescent ages 15 to 19, who have started child bearing, Kwara records 11 percent out of 19 percent for the whole country.”
Olaniyi appealed to the state government to ensure that PHC should implement specific delivery guidelines and protocols for adolescent and youth program, among others.
