RSG Honours Youth Champions …As State Marks International Adolescent Health Week

Rivers State Government-  has honoured  young persons in the state whom they described as “Youth Champions”.Those honoured  are Ezekiel Okuwa and Catherine  Dansi. The youths were trained by the Ministry of Health and they distinguished themselves by engaging their peers within their locality and making referral where necessary.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr(Mrs) Ndidi Chikanele Utchay who decorated the “Youth Champions” charged them to always work towards maintaining good example that the younger generation would emulate.
“I urge you two as “Youth Champions” to continually be a glowing example to the younger generation”,she said.
The decoration of the “Youth Champions” which took place at the Rivers State Ministry of Health,Secretariat Complex,Port Harcourt last Monday was part of activities to mark this year’s International Adolescent Health Week celebrations in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s (UNICEF) in the state.
The International Adolescent Health Week which is celebrated globally every third week in March has its 2022 week from 20th to 26th March and its theme as,”Transition”: from childhood to adulthood  physically and mentally from pre-pandemic life into a life shaped by pandemic”.The overall goal is to increase awareness and visibility of the health and wellness issues of adolescents globally.
After the decoration,the train of adolescent mentors,officials of the Ministry and media team stopped at the Government Girls Secondary School, Rumueme to sensitise students on the theme for the year.
It was an interactive session and was very engaging as the students were given insights that would help them cope as adolescents.The ministry shared a help line -09025764565 number to further enlighten and assist the children in case of any form of violence so that quick response can come.Over 500 students from the Universal Basic Education(UBE) and Senior Secondary sections of the school were present at the sensitisation campaign.
Still on the week,last Tuesday,there was a live phone-in programme at one of the popular radio stations in Port Harcourt aimed at widening the senstisation of adolescents and parents.The programme was on the theme:”Changes and Challenges associated with transition,how best to care for our adolescents and make them visible in society “
The discussants on radio were Jennifer Amadi, Vice Chairman, Adolescent and Young People Technical Working Group; Wendy Wokoma,Global co-lead,International Adolescent Health Week and a member of the Adolescent and Young People Technical Working Group.
Also,in view of this year’s celebration, the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board trained 23 focal persons across the 23 local government areas of the state to also create sensitisation among adolescents in schools at the local government level.

By: Ibinabo Ogolo