Press release
For Immediate Release:
10th of July, 2018
Abuja, Nigeria
PMNCH Toolkit in the spotlight on World Population Day
Education as a Vaccine in collaboration with National Population Commission launches Advocating for Change for Adolescents! –Nigeria Toolkit
Education as a Vaccine (EVA), the country focal point for the implementation of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Global Advocacy Toolkit in Nigeria in partnership with National Population Commission has launched the Advocating for Change for Adolescents! –Nigeria Toolkit.
The Advocating for Change for Adolescents! –Nigeria Toolkit is a resource for youth-led and youth-serving organizations to champion and advocate for the prioritization of adolescent health and wellbeing. EVA is working with other youth-led organisations to roll out a country-specific product that will help young people actively push for policies and laws that advance their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
As part of the activities for World Population Day officially commemorated on 11th July 2018, experts, policymakers, stakeholders drawn from MDAs, civil society and young people have come together to discuss the theme; Family Planning is a Human Right” and how to ensure adolescents and young people are not left behind in the efforts to improve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including family planning.
The Toolkit was officially launched by the Chairman, National Population Commission, Dr Eze Duruiheoma at the National Press Centre, Radio House Abuja. In his remarks, he said that no young person should be made to pass the youthful age without having the information needed for every stage of their lives. “It is a great privilege to launch the Advocating for Change for Adolescents Toolkit”.
In her opening remark, EVA’s Executive Director, Olabukunola Williams stated that Nigeria has a large youthful population and adolescence is a significant phase in their lives. “We want to provide young people with the tools and resources they need to make informed decisions about their lives. If young people are not too young to run, they are not too young to access information and services on their sexual and reproductive health and rights, including family planning”, she said.
Giving an overview of the PMNCH toolkit, Joyce Oboyi called for the review of the National Policy on Health and Development of Adolescents and Young people with specific inputs that address the unmet need for contraceptives for sexually active adolescents, lower and set the age of consent for HIV counseling, testing and care, comprehensive sexuality education and youth-friendly services according to the Guidelines for Young Person’s Participation in Research and Access to Sexual Reproductive Health Services in Nigeria (2014).
“The implementation of the Family Life and HIV/AIDs curriculum needs to be scaled up in all states across Nigeria as it is currently not taught in all schools and colleges”. Joyce added.
To advance their rights to health, especially their sexual and reproductive health, young people will be able to use the tools to implement advocacy strategies at all levels including their communities.
Signed by:
Education as a Vaccine Management
For more information please contact:
Bayo Ewuola Olanrewaju (Communication Officer)
Phone Number: 07060896623
Contact email: ccommunication@evanigeria.org
