Stakeholders reaffirm commitment to adolescent health programmes

Stakeholders in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) have reaffirmed their commitment to expand adolescent health programmes as part of a broader development agenda.

The commitment was made in a communiqué issued at the end of the two-day A360 Nigeria Annual National Pause and Reflect Summit on reproductive and sexual health for adolescents, held in Lagos from 18 to 19 September.

A360 Nigeria aims to address barriers to accessing and using modern contraceptives and improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

The communiqué, signed by 18 stakeholders from the public and private sectors, traditional and religious leaders, and development partners, outlined plans to implement a multi-sectoral approach to delivering ASRH programmes.

According to him, expanding adolescent health programmes involves implementing a multi-sectoral approach to scale and deliver Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) programmes.

“This includes layering economic empowerment initiatives and second-chance schools to cater to the holistic needs of adolescent girls.

“Other commitments include meaningfully engaging and including young people and adolescents in programmes and government accountability platforms, such as technical working groups and implementation platforms.

“Domesticate the National Family Planning Procurement Guidelines at state level and explore alternative funding sources, including the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, Health Insurance, and Health Investment Funds, to mobilise resources for adolescent health and development programmes.

“This will ensure sufficient financing for these initiatives.

“Additionally, tackle cultural and religious barriers to Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) interventions by engaging influential community and religious leaders.

“These leaders should serve as frontline advocates and integral components of ASRH programme structures, helping to promote awareness and acceptance,” he said.

Stakeholders emphasised the importance of adopting national policies and implementing state-specific frameworks to enhance data reporting and management for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) programming.

They also stressed the need for sustained efforts to scale up adolescent development initiatives and girls’ education.

The participants acknowledged significant progress in advancing the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) agenda, thanks to A360’s high-impact solutions.

However, they noted that recurring challenges, such as inadequate funding for Reproductive Health/ASRH activities, stock-outs of essential commodities, and ineffective data management, threaten to undermine this progress.

“Additional obstacles include socio-cultural norms and the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to deliver ASRH programs effectively.

“To address these challenges, urgent action, political will, and commitment from decision-makers, political actors, implementing partners, and community leaders are crucial.

“This collective effort is necessary to drive the ASRH agenda forward.”

In Nigeria, A360 collaborates with young people and government health systems to improve access to modern contraception for adolescent girls.

It supports the Federal Government’s goal of achieving a 27 per cent Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) by 2030.

The project is currently implemented in four states, Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Jigawa – through the Matasa Matan Arewa (MMA) Programme.

Notably, A360 is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) in Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Kenya.