Stakeholders Collaborate To Elevate Coverage of Adolescent Health Challenges

As part of efforts to address the pressing issues surrounding adolescent health, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) is championing elevated media coverage and awareness.

The initiative was unveiled at a 2-day training for young journalists on adolescent and young people’s health and development (AYPD), in Abuja, emphasising the crucial role media plays, especially on social platforms where young people are highly engaged.

The training outlined key objectives, with a focus on orientating journalists about the fundamental aspects of adolescent health and development.

Speaking at the event, the director of gender, Adolescent School Health and Elderly Care (GASHE) at the federal ministry of Health (FMoH), Dr John Ovuraye, said “We need to shed more light on the issues that affect adolescent health development so that the plight and things that relate to them can move forward”.

He decried the lack of full implementation of adolescent health policies, even though the many needs of adolescents in the country are embedded in them.

“There are many domains and priority things that adolescents need in Nigeria and they are all embedded in a policy. But we are not implementing the policy 100 percent and we do not have the resources to chase it.

“We can do better than where we are now when it comes to issues of adolescents”, the director added.

On her part,  a representative from the Health Promotion division, FMoh, Onyinye Ofoegbu-Jonathan, expressed the division’s dedication as the mouthpiece of the ministry. 

She stated that their involvement signifies a technical and strategic alliance, highlighting the critical role of media in disseminating information to influence behavioral change and promote public health. 

Also, the communication and marketing officer, Planned Parenthood Federation Nigeria (PPFN), Zainab Mukhtar, restated the organisations commitment towards capacity building for journalists.

She also urged journalists on frequent and quality reporting, especially in areas of sexual and reproductive health.