Health

Dedicate 5% of health budget to adolescents , group tells FG

By Hassan Zaggi

National Coalition for the Advancement of Adolescent and Youth Health (NCAAYH), Pitan Oyeyemi, has called on the Federal Government to dedicate 5 per cent of health budget to take care of the health of adolescents in the country,

She made the call at a media briefing in Abuja, weekend.

She regretted the abysmal small amount that is dedicated to take care of youth and adolescent related health challenges, saying that it is too meagre to contain the myriad of challenges confronting them.

The adolescent leader further called for a comprehensive healthcare services for adolescents in the country.

Oyeyemi who was visibly not happy about the situation said: “In 2020, it was 0.02 per cent of the health budget that was allocated for youth and adolescents and in 2021, it was 0.07 percent.

“In as much as we are aware that the federal government has a lot of things seeking for attention, at least, 5 per cent of the health budget should go to adolescents health. We are asking for comprehensive health services for adolescents that need help.

“The focus right now is on their sexual and reproductive health and it is very poor.

“Mental health is another issue where other issues hinge on. Mental is poor in Nigeria. There are a lot of thing in terms of its causes.

“Drug and substance use need to be addressed too. We want mental health for adolescent to be integrated into the Primary Health Care System.”

Earlier, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NCAAYH, Halima Bello, who insisted that Nigeria’s future is at risk, warned that the negative implications of low budgetary allocation for adolescents’ health care are huge.

According to her: “The implication of this low budget allocation to young people is poor youth and adolescent health friendly services across the country; poor nutrition and inadequate access to contraceptive information and services among young people, which put them at risk of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion, maternal morbidity and mortality.

“The implication on Education is massive, as adolescent female youth will drop out of school and diminish their chances of getting good jobs and productivity.

“Some are even forced into early marriage, the impact of all of these on their mental health can only be imagined.”

Halima, therefore, called on the “Federal and State Ministry of Health should create dedicated budget line for the health needs of adolescents and young people and ensure prompt release and utilization of funds to promote their access and utilization of these services.

“The Minister of Finance and the National Assembly should make funding available for FP commodities and services in 2022 Health Budget through supplementary appropriation or pay through service-wide vote of the 2022 budget.

“The Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency should integrate Adolescent-Youth Friendly services into primary health care facilities as part of routine services.

“The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) must be extended under the purview of Universal Health Coverage to include Adolescent and Youth Health Friendly Services, and make such services affordable to the Nigerian youth.

“The Federal Ministry of Health to strengthen the National Adolescent and Youth Technical Working Group to include and promote active youth and adolescent participation in all its planning and programs.”

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