By Igbawase Ukumba, Lafia
A non-governmental organization, Women Friendly Initiative, WFI, has blamed state governments in Nigeria for the increase in the rate of predicaments facing adolescents across the country.
WFI Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Francis Erumatha, apportioned the blame for the increase in the rate of challenges facing adolescents across the country on the states government at a one-day chat with media practitioners in Nasarawa State on Wednesday, in Lafia.
Represented by the NGO’s Programme Officer, Rosemary Adejoh, Dr Erumatha explained that the blame on the states government was due largely to the inability of the federating units to implement the two documents on National Guidelines for Promoting Access of Young People to Adolescents and Youth Friendly Health Services in Primary Health Care Facilities in Nigeria.
She said, “The none implementation of the two documents, which were launched by a former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in 2013 and delivered to the 774 local government areas of the country is a factor accelerating the challenges facing young people in Nigeria today.
“WFI, on its part, as an advocate for promoting access of young people to adolescents and youth friendly health services in primary health care facilities in Nigeria, wish to appeal to states government in the country to implement the policy documents in order to lessen the burden of adolescent challenges facing young people in the country.”
She concluded by re-echoeing the need for the federating units in the country to as a matter of necessity hasten up the integration of adolescents and youth friendliness initiatives in its policies and programmes in order to better the lives of the young people.
