The Rivers State Ministry of Health has launched adolescent health sensitisation programmes across secondary schools to promote healthy living among teenagers.
Speaking to journalists at Government Girls Secondary School Rumueme on Monday, the Programme Manager for Adolescent Health and Development in the ministry, Dr. Tammy Briggs, said the initiative is designed to educate students on adolescent health and development. According to her, the programme covers sexual and reproductive health and rights, menstrual hygiene, gender-based violence, nutrition, and substance abuse.
Dr. Briggs explained that the outreach, which will be held in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, ONELGA and Eleme, became necessary because adolescents are at a stage where they are curious and often rely on information from peers, which may be misleading or harmful.
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“We are trying to make them understand that they should have health-seeking behavior. We know that adolescents are not yet adults and they have unique needs, and these needs need attention.”
“We have observed that we are having a lot of teenage pregnancies, and we are here to sensitize them on ways to prevent them entirely”. She said.
Two students, Miss Edmond Chisom and Anika Queen, commended the ministry for the programme, noting that it enlightened them on mental and reproductive health.
The initiative also includes lectures on gender-based violence, general hygiene, health education, free tuberculosis testing, and the distribution of sanitary pads
