The Ministerial Dissemination of the Assessment of the National Response to Young People’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Nigeria
Over the last ten years, there has been increased commitment by government and stakeholders at all levels in addressing the sexual and reproductive health challenges of young people. Unfortunately, a wide gap still exists between policy formulation and programme implementation in meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people. It was in this light, that the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in collaboration with Action Health Incorporated (AHI) decided to undertake an assessment of the national response to young people’s sexual and reproductive health in Nigeria. The assessment which included a desk review and field visit to six states (one per geopolitical zone) and FCT was aimed at optimizing the health and development of young people in Nigeria.
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The assessment report of national response to young people’s sexual and reproductive health was launched by Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, Minister of Health on Tuesday, 7th July 2009 at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers. Participants at this public presentation included key officials of the FMOH; representatives of various development partners including UNICEF, UNFPA, Packard Foundation, MacArthur Foundation; Adolescent Health and Development Focal Persons from states across the federation; religious bodies; representatives of CSOs/NGOs, media as well as young people. Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of UNICEF, UNFPA and the Executive Director of Action Health Incorporated (AHI), Mrs. ‘Nike Esiet. In her address, she congratulated FMOH on the public release of the assessment report and expressed her hope that the findings as well as recommendations from the assessment would chart the way forward, adding that committed leadership, backed with funding, coordination and partnership at all levels of programming are required for advancing young people’s sexual and reproductive health. In conclusion, Mrs. Esiet pledged AHI’s commitment to join other youth-SRH stakeholders in ensuring optimal development of young people in the years ahead.
Synopsis of the assessment findings and recommendations are:
Findings
- Several supporting policies and frameworks for programming on young people’s SRH are available;
- The FMOH has not developed a nationally costed plan on young people’s SRH;
- The FMOH has limited working collaboration with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies who are significant in the improvement of young people’s SRH
- Many of the existing programmes are focused on young people in school and very few programmes target out-of-school, married adolescents girls, young people with disabilities and those in rural areas.
- No budgetary provision is made for programming on young people’s SRH at all levels
- Some SRH donor organisations in Nigeria have supported young people‘s SRH programming over the years and many CSOs have been involved in programming activities.
Recommendations
- FMOH should take the lead in mobilizing a national multi-sectoral response to young people’s SRH;
- Governments at all levels should lead the way through the provision of statutory budgetary allocation for AHD annually as the key index of government responsibility and commitment to young people’s health and development in Nigeria;
- All federal health agencies and facilities must prioritize the provision of Youth Friendly Health Services;
- FMOH’s Adolescent Health and Development Unit should be strengthened to discharge her functions;
- FMOH should coordinate the development of a national costed programme of action including a monitoring and evaluation plan;
- FMOH/National Planning Commission to coordinate all donors supporting young people’s SRH.
