PROGRAMMES TARGET POINTS AT WHICH ADOLESCENT HEALTH CAN BE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSED
To achieve our objectives, we use a multidimensional approach that targets the different points at which adolescent health can be effectively addressed.
Policy Advocacy and Community Mobilization for Youth Programming
AHI implements advocacy, sensitisation, mobilization and public enlightenment at both national and state levels with the aim of creating an enabling environment for youth programming. Working in partnership with allies within and outside government, such sustained advocacy target policy makers, community leaders, media practitioners, trade unions, parents and youths, and facilitate action on young people’s sexual and reproductive health and information needs.
Promoting Youth Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Education and Counselling
AHI implements an innovative peer education program in over 50 secondary schools in Lagos State through Health and Life Planning Clubs (HLPC). These clubs are coordinated by trained peer educators and teachers, and provide a forum for young people to acquire and share factual information on issues of youth health and development. The positive results of the peer education program are seen in the ever-increasing demand to establish similar clubs in other secondary schools.
Complementing the HLPCs, are activities organized at AHI’s youth centre, providing young people with age-appropriate information, counselling and opportunities to develop skills that promote positive health practices and responsible decision making about their sexuality.
AHI is also collaborating with the Lagos State Ministry of Education to implement the National Family Life and HIV Education curriculum in over 300 public junior secondary schools in the state.
Youth-friendly Clinical and Referral Services
AHI’s reproductive health clinic offers young people general and sexual/reproductive healthcare services, non-judgmental counselling, laboratory services as well as referrals to appropriate institutions for further care when required. The clinic serves over 3,000 young people annually. The clinic was established in response to the lack of healthcare services to address the peculiar needs of young people. The clinic also serves as a youth-friendly health service provision model for training health care institutions, NGOs and government facilities.
Promoting Access to Publications and Resource Materials
AHI provides access to adolescent health journals, online databases, electronic journals and CD-ROMs through its reference library, which is widely used by mass media personnel, researchers, programme implementers and young people. In addition, AHI produces a wide variety of educational resources that include training manuals and guides for youth health and development programming.
Networking, Training and Technical Assistance
AHI works with other youth serving organizations and government in underserved communities within the country to build local capacity in youth programming in the following areas: Family Life/HIV/AIDS education; design of peer education programmes; training in adolescent-friendly health service provision; skills-building training for improve parent-child communication and on-site technical assistance on all components of youth programming.
Promoting a Better Understanding of Human Sexuality in Africa
AHI hosts and facilitates the Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre (ARSRC), an initiative aimed expanding and shaping the discourse, thinking and action on sexuality in Africa in favour of healthy, respectful, responsible and pleasurable sexuality. AHI also hosts the secretariat for the African Federation for Sexual Health and Rights, the regional arm of the World Association for Sexual Health.