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Health

NGO to integrate adolescents in emergency, post-emergency programming in Nigeria

NGO to integrate adolescents in emergency, post-emergency programming in Nigeria
By Talatu Maiwada
Adolescent
Abuja, Nov. 14, 2018 (NAN) Mercy Corps Nigeria, an NGO, says it will organise a summit to reach out and integrate adolescents into emergency and post-emergency programming in the country.
Ms Wemimo Onikan, the Communication Officer of the organisation, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Onikan said the two-day summit holding in Abuja from Nov. 14 to Nov. 15, is themed: “’Reaching Adolescents in Emergencies, Getting it Right When it Matters the Most’’.
She noted that adolescents were often neglected during emergency responses as well as the least reached with programmes and support in the country.
“In the context of emergency responses in Nigeria and the world over, adolescents are often least reached with programmes and support.
“Humanitarian interventions are often focused on younger children under five, despite the fact that adolescents have great potential and ability to become agents of change in their various communities,’’ the spokesperson said.
She said the summit would bring together International Non-Governmental Organisations and key stakeholders that would change the narrative and bring more attention to adolescent girls and boys in emergency situations.
Onikan added that they would examine critical ways to integrate adolescents into emergency and post-emergency programming, explore approaches and tools for responsive programming tailored toward adolescent girls and boys, among others. (NAN)
TIM/YI/MST
Edited by Yahaya Isah/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Expert harps on menstrual hygiene management for adolescent girls

Expert harps on menstrual hygiene management for adolescent girls
By Talatu Maiwada
Menstruation
Abuja, Sept. 28, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Christy Awunor, a State Nursing Coordinator with the AIDS Health Care Foundation (AHF), an NGO, has advised adolescent girls to maintain high level of hygiene during their monthly menstruation periods.
Awunor gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
She said poor menstrual hygiene could result in stigma, ill health and infection.
The expert said that it was important for adolescent girls aged 10 to 19, to be knowledgeable, informed and confident in managing menstruation with safety and dignity while using safe hygienic materials.
She said adolescence stage was a transitional period between childhood and adulthood, in which they experience the first occurrence of menstruation also called menarche.
Awunor defined menstruation as a biological process in women and girls where each month blood and other materials discharge from the lining of the uterus.
She explained that menstruation occurs from the onset of puberty till menopause, except during pregnancy, hence the need to create more awareness on menstrual hygiene management among young adolescent girls.
“When menstruation begins, it is important for them to discuss it with a trusted female like their mother, older sister, aunt, grandmother or a female friend.
“They need not to be scared or ashamed when they see the blood stain but rather to feel proud as their body is developing into that of a young woman.
“Secondly, the need to place a clean pad, cloth, cotton or tissue paper inside their under wear, while they change it every two to six hours or more as the flow gets heavier.
“Thirdly, maintaining hygiene by washing their genitals every morning and evening with soap and clean water, pat dry before placing another absorbent material.
“Finally, the need to dispose off properly by wrapping it in a clean paper bag and putting it in a waste bin to be burnt later or wash and dry used cloth if reusable,’’ she added.
Awunor further advised young girls who experience menstrual cramp to place hot water rubber bottle on their stomach, keep the body active by exercising, take painkillers, eat well and keep the body hydrated.
She urged government at all levels to priorities the needs of women and girls by providing sanitary facilities, access to water and sanitation, as menstrual hygiene was an integral part of every woman’s live. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Agency attributes upsurge in HIV/AIDS in Nasarawa to high risky behaviours

Agency attributes upsurge in HIV/AIDS in Nasarawa to high risky behaviours
By Awayi Kuje
Risks
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Aug. 29, 2018 (NAN) The Nasarawa State AIDS Control Agency (NASACA) has attributed high risky behaviours engaged by Adolescents and Youths for the upsurge in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the state.
The Executive Director, NASACA, Dr Ruth Adabe, said this on Wednesday in Keffi while presenting an overview PMTCT and AYP of Nasarawa State at a one-day meeting with media executives in Nasarawa state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the the meeting is co-organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Kaduna State Field Office, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
Adabe, who was represented by Dr.Peter Attah, the state’s HIV/AIDS and STIs Control Programme, called for a collective fight against HIV/AIDS,
“As a result of engaging in these high risky behaviours, there has been an upsurge in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases in adolescents,’’ he said.
The officer said it was important for all stakeholders supporting HIV in the state with adolescents and youths who are the key persons to meet and engage themselves in order to sensitise the general public on the epidemic.
“In 2016, 240,000 adolescents (between the ages of 10 and 19, were living with HIV, making up seven per cent of the total number of people with HIV in Nigeria.
“HIV prevalence among this age group varies regionally, with 4.3 per cent of 15-19 year olds living with HIV in the South South, compared to 1.3 per cent in the South East.
“Health outcomes for adolescents living with HIV in Nigeria are poor, and Nigeria is the only country in the world where mortality in 10 -14 year olds is rising.
“Young women have a higher HIV prevalence and are infected earlier in life than men of the same age group.
“In 2016, more than 46,000 young women were infected with HIV compared to 33,900 young men.
“Reports from a 2017 National Health Survey showed that only 29 per cent of women and 27.9 per cent of men between the ages of 15 to 24 could correctly identify ways of preventing sexual transmission of HIV, and reject major myths around transmission,” she said.
She disclosed that 4,245 AYPs were currently on on ARV treatment as at June 2018 in the state, comprising 976 males and 3,269 females, noting that female are the most affected group.
The executive director called for effective strategy to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, urging for HIV counselling and testing among the people.
Earlier, Mr Rabiu Musa, the Communication Officer of UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office, said that the aimed of the meeting was to provide knowledge and orientation to the participants on PMTCT, AYP and HIV/AIDS situation in order to tackle the menace in the country. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

HIV/AIDS: UNICEF, NOA scales up advocacy among Nasarawa adolescents

HIV/AIDS: UNICEF, NOA scales up advocacy among Nasarawa adolescents
By Awayi Kuje
HIV/AIDS
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Aug. 29, 2018 (NAN) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says it is alarmed with the high prevalent rate of HIV/AIDS among adolescents in Nigeria and is engaging relevant stakeholders to combat the menace.
Mr Rabiu Musa, the Communication Officer of UNICEF, Kaduna Filed Office, made this known on Wednesday in Keffi at a meeting with media executives in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Musa said the fund was partnering with the National Orientation Agency, State Governments, media, traditional rulers, religious leaders, healthcare experts and civil society organisations, among others, to enlighten youths on the dangers of the scourge.
He said the collaboration was focused on the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and HIV/AIDs in order to tackle the spread scourge in the country.
According to him, the aimed of the meeting was to provide knowledge/orientation to media executives on PMTCT, AYP and HIV/AIDs situation so as to tackle the menace in the country.
“The aim is also to review and document programme of the media and organisations in the state in supporting the dissemination of PMTCT, AYP/HIV and AIDS messages.
“To leverage airtime and produce links for dissemination of PMTCT, AYP/HIV and AIDS messages.
“And also to develop media plans by the participating media houses for implementation,“ he said.

The official therefore enjoined the participants to appreciate the magnitude of and map out strategies on how to address the challenges on PMTCT, and Adolescent and Young Persons (AYP) in the society.
Besides, Musa called on the media to upscale to educate the public on the dangers of the scourge considering its negative effect to societal development.
He restated the commitment of UNICEF to continue to partner the state and other organisations in order to tackle the scourge in the country.
“We want to work towards addressing HIV/AIDS in Nasarawa State as the state that is one of the growing states in terms of HIV/AIDs,” he said.
Alhaji Galadima Soba, the Kaduna State Director of NOA, urged the participants to develop a good media plan for implementation and use of existing programmes for effective dissemination of PMTCT, AYP, HIV and AIDS messages worldwide.
Soba, who was represented by the state’s Deputy Director, Human Resources and Finance, Malam Hamza Audu, called for more systematic and improved packaging of the various messages in more effective ways on awareness creation of PMTCT, AYP, HIV and AIDS.
“I am optimistic that with the right attitude and inputs of the calibre of the participants here-present to develop a good media plan for implementation and use of existing programmes for effective dissemination of PMTCT, AYP, HIV and AIDS messages worldwide,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was climaxed with an overview of HIV/AIDS in Nasarawa State and shared experiences from Kaduna State, among others. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

(Video) NAN News Highlights for Wed., Aug. 1, 2018

 

  1. President Muhammadu Buhari presided over the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the presidential villa, Abuja, after returning from Lome, Togo, on Tuesday night where he emerged asnew Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States.

The Federal Ministries of Justice, Transportation (Aviation) and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission are among ministries and agency to brief the meeting.

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  1. Nigeria and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen military and security cooperation in line with the principle of mutual assistance in both countries.

Col. Liu Yongxuan, Defence Attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar represented by Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Air Vice Marshal Abdulganiyu Olabisi, made the commitments at a ceremony to mark the annual 91st anniversary of China’s People’s Liberation Army in Abuja.

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  1. The Independent National Electoral Commission says the Aug. 17 deadline for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will not be extended.

Mr Mohorret Bigun, Public Affairs Officer of INEC in Gombe, said the exercise
would henceforth include weekends and public holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  to enable more people register beginning from Aug.1 and would resume after the 2019 General Elections scheduled from Feb. 26 and March 2.

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  1. UNICEF says one in every two children in Nigeria suffer severe forms of violence before they are 18 years.

 

Rocoio Aznar Daban UNICEF Child Protection Manager, advised parents to adopt alternative measures of discipline to corporal punishments, to check the spate of violence related instability amongst adolescents.

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  1. Nigerian champion athletes and quartet team have been inducted into the African Athletics Confederation Hall of Fame.

Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, Caster Semenya, Christy Udoh, Regina George, Dominique Duncan alongside Olusoji Fasuba: Africa’s fastest man and Tosin Oke, who set the current UK juniorindoor record, were also honoured.

Health

NPoPC decries early sex, highlights consequences

 

Discussants at a World Population Day;  Inter-generational Dialogue on Thursday in Lagos. July 12, 2018 (NAN)

NPoPC decries early sex, highlights consequences

Sex

By Vivian Ihechu

Lagos, July 12, 2018 (NAN) The National Population Commission (NPopC) on Thursday decried the early sex by Nigerian adolescents, saying it had grave implications.

Ms Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Hon. Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, made the disclosure at an Intergenerational Dialogue to mark the 2018 World Population Day in Lagos.

The event which was organised by the NPopC in conjunction with the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative 11 had its theme as: “Family Planning is a Human Right.”

Salu-Hundeyin said: “According to the last NDHS in 2014, majority of our girls become sexually active at the age of 15 years while the boys get involved at 18 years.

“When they get sexually involved at such a very young age, especially for the girls, it has dire consequences.’’

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Salu-Hundeyin said: “This affects a lot of things.

“Education is truncated, she drops out of school and a whole lot of things change; she cannot get the type of future she desires, she is not empowered and she is psychologically broken.

“So, we advocate that these young people have access to the right information, as well as options to take if they insist on sex.

“This enables them make informed decisions on whether to still get involved sexually or not.’’

The NPopC commissioner said the commission was doing a lot to get everyone involved to address the situation, especially by getting people to accept family planning.

“We also try to talk to parents because sometimes we have some cultural beliefs that do not help family planning.

“We dissuade them and let them see what the government is doing to bring reproductive health facilities closer to people.

“We also ask state governments to establish more reproductive health facilities and centres so that people can have access to them.

“Family Planning should be readily accessible to anybody who wants it because 5o years ago in Tehran, it was declared by the United Nation as a right, though it was stressed that it must be exercised responsibly.

“This is because if you have more than you can train, you are bringing more vices to the community and country than the advantages the child should give to us,” Salu-Hundeyin said.

Also, Mrs Rashidat Umar, Youth Development Officer, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Lagos State, said young people should have access to information and services.

According to her, they need to know the consequences and implications of engaging in early sex and the need to wait until they are physiological and emotionally ready for it.

Mr Akin Jimoh, Programme Director, Development Communications Network (DevComs) told NAN that family planning had a lot of linkages.

“Family planning goes beyond pills, injectibles and condoms; it is the core of our development; it  has linkage to population, linkage to maternal health and linkage to child health.

“Parents need to reflect, they need to talk to their children because sexuality actually starts at a young age.

“The children are curious; they want to know things and changes about their bodies and they must be given the right information to prevent mistakes and being victims,’’ Jimoh said.

NAN reports that participants included the NPoPC, Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Lagos State Ministry of Health, InterFaith Groups, Traditional Heads and Youths. (NAN)

VIV/SA

Edited by Salif Atojoko

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Health

NGO calls for increased access to sex education for adolescents

NAN-HG-8
Adolescents
By Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, Nov.1, 2017 (NAN) An NGO, Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI 2), on Wednesday called for increased access to information on unsafe sex for adolescents to reduce its accompanying consequences.

Dr Omasanjuwa Edun, the Lagos State Team Leader, NURHI 2, made the call at a meeting on “Net Mapping of Adolescents and Youth Family Planning Situation in Lagos State” held in Lagos.

Edun said that unsafe sex was a common practice among youths, which resulted in unintended pregnancy that ends in unsafe abortion and its complications.

Edun said that increased information on safe sex and family planning would address unsafe sex and teenage pregnancy which have been identified as important maternal and public health challenges.

“Currently, about one quarter of Nigerian adolescents are sexually active, with the age of sexual debut ranging from 10 to 15 years.

“There is need for teenagers to know how to guard against unwanted circumstances such as unwanted pregnancy to secure their future.

“Family planning is not only meant for the married, but in the real sense of it, it is for every sexually active person not ready to bear children at that particular point in time.

“Thus, when teenagers who are sexually active cannot be convinced to abstain from sex, they should be armed with information on the implications of sexual intercourse.

“Family planning should also be recommended to them.

“So, we have to start educating them on time to have the knowledge of family planning so that when they find themselves in such situations they will be able to prevent unwanted pregnancies,’’ Edun said.

He said that adolescent pregnancy had become a daunting problem in Nigeria.

“Studies have shown the prevalence of unintended pregnancy among adolescents to be 23 per cent in the West, 36 per cent in the South and 26 per cent in the North-Central.

“The inability of adolescents to access not just contraceptives but the necessary information when needed has also been found to be responsible for the unintended pregnancies in adolescents.

“This often results in unsafe abortions,’’ he said.

According to the NURHI official, it has been projected that the population of young people in Nigeria will exceed 57 million by the year 2025, a large proportion of which are adolescents.

He said adolescents constitute an important proportion of the population of Nigeria, adding that they also have delicate stages that presented challenges.

Edun said that the challenges were sexual and reproductive health due to the developmental changes in their bodies.

He listed some of the dangers of unsafe sex to include sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies, abortions, interference with their education and child marriage.

“This practice exposes them to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV with a prevalence of 17 per cent among adolescents in the South-East and 14 per cent in the Northern part of the country.’’

“ In South-West Nigeria for example, 27.4 per cent of  unintended pregnancy among adolescents in a secondary school ended in abortion, while other studies recorded about 60 per cent,’’ Edun said.

He said Nigeria reports a yearly rate of 25 abortions per 1000 women and more than a quarter of which were from adolescents, resulting in unintended pregnancy.

He said that in the Southern part, about 32 per cent of the cases of unsafe abortion was among adolescents who had unintended pregnancy.

“All these pose danger to the lives of adolescents and contribute to the overall maternal mortality in Nigeria.

“Getting pregnant may not even be the most disturbing problem for some adolescents in Nigeria, but the fact that in most cases it interferes with their education.

“Evidence from studies has shown that those who are pregnant as students, either dropout of school or dismissed from school, majority of whom may never get back to school again.

“Others are forced by their parents into child marriage as a result of the pregnancy,’’ Edun said. (NAN)
VIV/COF/GOK
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Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Olagoke Olatoye