IAHW 2021: Raising The Hopes Of Adolescents Worldwide

The International Adolescent Health Week celebrated across the globe in the 3rd full week of March annually may have come and gone but must has left with it hopes towards improving the health and well – being of the over one billion adolescents across the globe.
In Nigeria, different states marked the week in various ways bearing in mind the theme of this year’s celebration, which was Adolescence Resilience in the Face of a Pandemic “.
Here in Rivers state, the celebration kicked off with a state wide broadcast by the Commissioner of Health, Professor Princewill Chike where he made a passionate appeal to stakeholders in the upbringing of adolescents to consider this vulnerable group i n decision making in other to give them a sense of belonging in the society.
He also called on adults, parents, opinion, religious, community and political leaders to consider the voice of adolescents in everyday decision making with a view to refocusing individual and corporate values towards the positive development of adolescence and building a safe society.
The Health Commissioner stated that the theme of this years’ international celebration was aimed towards increasing the recognition of unique health issues facing adolescents worldwide. He added that, it will also increase their engagement in their own health decisions with the ultimate goal of working collectively towards improving the health and well – being of adolescents.
Prof Chike noted that a healthy and vibrant youth population constitutes a nations account and forms a critical mass for national development.
The state’s celebration was geared towards sensitizing  the adolescents on the need to access adolescence – friendly services in the state’s facilities across the 23 Local government areas .
Events for the celebration of the Adolescent week in the state included a road rally and sensitization visits to Mile one and Creek Road Markets in Port Harcourt, There was also a Radio Talk Show at WAZOBIA FM and an advocacy visit to the office of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to interface with their local government area representatives to present the message of the week long celebration to them for their various communities.
At the Federal level, Nigerian’s Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment towards ensuring the welfare of adolescents in Nigeria, noting that the Covid – 19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the importance of health investment in childhood towards a healthy adulthood.
The minister, who as part of activities to mark the 2021 international Adolescent Health Week interacted with the adolescents at both physical and virtual events in Abuja.
Dr Ehanire at the event indicated that the government recognized the potential and importance of investing in the health and wellbeing of adolescents to support a successful transition to adulthood.
He pointed out that the leading health challenges among adolescents and young people in Nigeria had in 2019 included issues of sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRH), mental health, substance abuse, nutritional problems, violence and injuries, physical disorders and chronic conditions such as asthma, sickle cell disease disorders and oral health problems, including communicable and non – communicable diseases.
He assured Nigerians that FMOH is providing leadership and guidance in collaboration with partners to ensure continuous delivery of essential gender responsive services and to mitigate health services, access barriers feed by adolescents and young people in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been urged to create more youth friendly centers where youths can feel free to discuss issues regarding their health. This they believe will help the youth to avoid depression with the help of competent consellors. The call was made by Isabella Amani ,at the event in Abuja.
Amani, a teenager and a representative of Stand With a Girl  Initiative, also urged the Federal Ministry of Health to create a specialized desk for adolescents in all major health facilities where they can seek medical and psychological care especially during this Covid – 19 era.
In their contribution to the week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) noted that they are making progress on universal health coverage requires keeping adolescents at the center of the Sustainable Developmental Goal agenda which represents a critical window of opportunity for effective prevention and health promotion with effects throughout the life course.
With the vision that no adolescent or young person is left behind”. WHO is continuing to work with Government all levels to support specific actions that effectively respond to the need of different categories of adolescents and young people with various levels of vulnerabilities and to remove barriers constraining the access of any sub group to relevant services and opportunities for improved health, well – being and development.
Also, WHO Nigeria under the organization Adolescents Flayship program, has been supporting the (FMOH)  using the global Accelerated Action on Health Adolescent Guidance, to revise the National policy on health and development of Adolescent and young people.
International Adolescent Health Week celebrated the 3rd full week of March yearly it is a grassroots programme  for young people, their health care providers, their teachers, their parents, their advocates and their communities to come together and celebrated young people with an ultimate goal of working collectively towards improving the health and wellbeing of the over 1 billion adolescents across the globe today.
International Adolescents Health Week started as Teen Health Week celebrated in a single state, pennsy lvania, in the US in 2016and grew rapidly to a global celebration.
This week is led by adolescent health members of the society of Adolescent Health and Medicine IAHW Special Interest Group and the International Association of Adolescent Health.
The mission of International Adolescent Health week is to inspire adolescents and their communities to advocate for a successful transition into adulthood.

By: Ibinabo Ogolo