Charles Ekanem|25 March 2018
In a bid to enlighten young people about reproductive health in Cross River state, a Non Governmental Group called Young People for Global Health (YPGH), a youth advocate group who are Pathfinder International recipient in advocating for reproductive health amongst young persons in the society hosted a media parley meeting with the Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu in her office today.
The group led by her Team lead, Mr. Edu Ukporo said the essence of the media parley and courtesy visit was to inform the DG about their project in Cross River State and for YPGH to be included in reproductive health training and services offered in PHCs.
Speaking further, the teamlead said, it was also important to visit the DG considering the fact that she is a policy maker, strong influencer and a focal person in the health sector, hence the need to inform her about YPGH decision to partner with the state in reproductive health.
The Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu in her welcome address, thanked staff of YPGH and media crew for organizing such a media parley meeting. She also thanked Mrs Ubong-Abasi and Diana- mary for following up adolescent health related issues in the state.
She appreciated the support of the media in dissemination of health information to young people via social media since a good percentage of the young adolescents are social media friendly.
Speaking further, Dr Betta Edu says YPGH should focus more on youths, reproductive health and family planning access. Reiterating that teenage pregnancy is on the increase everyday and diseases like HIV, hepatitis B are prevalent in our society destroying the youths. She said nobody is talking about sexual activities youth indulge in because we think it is not morally or politically correct to say anything about it in public.
Young adolescents should be counselled on sex abstinence and reproductive health education should be incorporated in school's curriculum. This will make young people to feel free to tell adults their reproductive health issue.
The DG pledges to support and partner with YPGH on reproductive health advocacy through the agency and also seeks support of YPGH in training of Health staff. She tasks the group on preparing talks on reproductive health to be used during trainings.
The DG uses the opportunity to extend her appreciation to Pathfinder International for all their support to Cross River state, reiterating His Excellency, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade's passion for health in the state.
“when young people are not well educated on the need to abstain from sex, or protect themselves they end up dropping out of school, get unwanted pregnancy and commit abortions, die or become baggage to society.
The group Team lead thanked the DG for availing them her time despite her busy schedule and promises to take reproductive health advocacy to schools as rightly said by the DG.
The media parley had in attendance Mrs Ubong-Abasi, Mr Edu Ukporo, Samuel Ini, Mrs Diana Mary Owan, Nkwachukwu Chioma Denis of Calabarblog, Mudi Affe of Punch Newspapers, Judex Okoro of Sun Newspapers, Nten Ekpang of CRBC, Elijah Ugani of CrossRiverWatch, Aniekan Bassey of Oracle.
Charles Ekanem
Writes from Calabar
