Minister wants policy on issues affecting 1.8 billion adolescent in environment space

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie E. Ehanire has said in order for adolescence to grow and thrive well in a society, there is a need to ignite good mental balance, and good health in a safe and supportive environment, hereby urging policy makers across the globe to work together in providing policies that confront about 1.8 billion adolescents across the world.

Dr Ehanire made this assertion on Monday in Abuja at the ministerial press briefing to commemorate the 2023 International Adolescent Health Week, saying age can be appropriate, in a comprehensive way, by educating adolescents.

The minister, who was represented by Adebimpe Adebiyi, Director/Head, Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, said adolescent life is about saving livelihood skills, health services when acceptable, and being equitable in a good environment. “They also need opportunities to meaningfully participate in the design and delivery of interventions to improve and maintain their health. Expanding such opportunities is key to responding to adolescents’ specific needs and rights”.

He further emphasized that the world has more population in which young people are the majority as at today than at any time in history, adding that 1.8 billion adolescents and youth (ages 10-24) will fall short of potential if current policy and investment approaches fail to meet their needs.

Dr. Ehanire lamented that about 12 million girls between the ages of 15 to 19 years, with the statistics and 777,000 girls under the of 15 years give birth each year in developing regions of the world and at least 10 million unintended pregnancies occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15-19 years in the developing world.

He expressed that complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for 15-19- year-old girls globally.

“Out of the estimated 5.6 million abortions that occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15-19 years. 3.9 million are unsafe, contributing to maternal mortality, morbidity and lasting health problems.

“Adolescent mothers (ages 10-19 years) face higher risks of eclampsia, puerperal endometritis, and systemic infections than women aged 20 to 24 years, and their babies face higher risks of low birth weight, preterm delivery and severe neonatal conditions.

“You may now begin to see more reasons why paying adequate attention to the health and developmental issues of adolescents should be prioritized with full involvement of the adolescents themselves at all levels of programming.

“They should be involved in decision-making processes for their own health and well-being, their empowerment and resilience, their education and skills.

“As we celebrate this week, let us not forget to discuss deeply on the need to provide adolescents with services that are comprehensive, appropriately confidential, developmentally appropriate primary care, and that is feasible, valid, with reliable quality measures.

“There is also a need plan towards policy implementation that uses adolescent self-reported data to help assess the quality of preventive care provided to youth.

“In addition, existing measures that were developed in association with initiatives designed to improve the care delivered to adolescent patients should be considered and improved for use by external quality-measurement organizations.

“Adolescents have equal rights to health care access, continuity of care, confidentiality of care, preventive care, and desired measurable health outcomes that should be highly rewarded by all stakeholders to help promote high quality adolescent health care service delivery in Nigeria,” he said.

However, the minister commended all partners, CSOS, Young People, MDAs, Religious and community leaders, and all other stakeholders for your various support.

In his welcomed remarks, Dr. Mamuda Mamman, permanent secretary of federal ministry of health, said the government can not do it alone, therefore calling on multi-stakeholders partnership to be involved.

The permanent secretary who is represented by implementary partners, Dr. Boladale Alone, director family health Dept, said the coordination platform will be deliberate by involving partnerships between government Coordination platform, civil society, and the private sector, to focus on providing leadership and coordination to deliver on promoting the health and wellbeing of our young people among others.