SARAH SOTONYE
About 60 million Nigerian have been denied access
to information on how to learn life skills on reproductive health.
This was the high point of a training tagged:
‘Sensitisation of Journalists,’ which held in Lagos recently.
The one-day programme was organised by the
Development Communications Nigeria,(DEVCOMs), in collaboration with the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) .
The Programme Adviser, NURHI,(Abuja), Mrs. Macbeth
Bolaji said that the training was aimed at sensitising the journalists on life planning on
adolescents and the youths. “When we look at the population of Nigeria,
one-third of entire population of Nigeria are the young people who lack access
to information on how to plan their reproductive health.
“And that has led to ills in the society where
teenage pregnancies, abortions and these young girls are eventually forced out
of schools.
The information of Life Planning on Adolescents
and the Youths should be made available because we have observed that they are
increasingly now becoming active in their sexual reproductive health life. So,
their access to information should not be denied because they are young.”
Also, speaking, NUHRI’s Programme Officer,
(Lagos), Ms. Ajani Bless-Me, said that the society has not done well by
hoarding information for young people. It is important for the society to allow
the youth to have access to information they can decipher so as to reach their
maximum potentials.
She said, “The youths need information to plan
their reproductive health, because it has to do with their growing up stages
from childhood, adolescence and into adulthood. The society has to make it
easier for the youths to have access to information.
“It is important that we as the custodians of
right information on sexual and reproductive health, especially the parents,
guardians and the older ones
should feel free to discuss issues that have to do with sex with the young
ones.”
The Programme Director, DEVCOMs, Mr. Akin
Jimoh considered the topic on Life
Planning on Adolescents and the Youths (LPAY), as very important, “because life without planning
will be a waste and if you don’t plan, you will find yourself in a situation that is not conducive for living.
“A young person needs to understand that he needs
to wait. Education is a priority
and that even when people get married, they need to plan.
“Everyone needs a long term planning in the way
that will be comfortable for himself. If you take a decision, you will follow
through with it. This is very essential for one to achieve the kind of life he
wants to live.”
