Anambra Government Inaugurates Technical Working Group On Adolescent Health

Anambra State Government has inaugurated state Technical Working Group on Adolescent Health and Development issues.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike reiterated the commitment of Gov. Charles Soludo’s led administration of tackling health related issues in the state, charged them to be committed in discharging of their duties.

Dr. Obidike said this while inaugurating the group at the Jerome Udoji State Secretariat, Awka.

The technical working group resident in the state Ministry of Health, is an Inter ministerial committee that identifies and implements programme that are targeted toward addressing challenges facing adolescent health and development in the state.

Members of the group are drawn from the Academic community, Media, Ministries and Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, Youth led and Advocacy groups.

The commissioner said that Gov. Soludo prioritizes more on issues that affect young people such as the increasing rate of illicit substance abuse and other sexual health issues affecting them.

Dr Obidike announced that the State government through the Ministry of Health has intensified plans to build a modern rehabilitation centre for people with substance abuse disorder in the state.

The team lead of the Adolescent and School Health Branch, Department of Family Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Joyce Kanu who facilitated the training of members of the group in the state.

Mrs Kanu identified the challenges facing adolescents to include substance abuse, unsafe abortion, rape, cultism and poor access to life planning information for adolescents and youths.

She said that there is need to put some of the issues on the front burner of policy making at all levels of government.

State Coordinator, World Health Organization, Dr. Abdulnasir Adamu, pledged the continuous technical and financial support of the organization in the areas of adolescent health and development.

Permanent Secretaries of Ministry of Health, Youth and Sports, Education are also part of the group (MOI).