Adolescents must be kept Healthy to Achieve UHC – CSOs
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), says progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires keeping adolescents healthy as they represent critical window of opportunity in the country.
Mr Muhammad Usman, Chairman, National Advocates for Health, who spoke on behalf of the CSOs said this in Abuja on Sunday at the two-day strategic retreat organised by the African Health Budget Network (AHBN).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the retreat reviewed the country’s Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition- (RMNCAH+N), Recovery Plan Scorecard & Validate the Family Planning (FP), 2030 Accountability Motion Tracker Template.
Usman said that investment in adolescents delivered “multiple dividends,” improved health and enhancement throughout the life course and contributing to the health of future generations.
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“Healthy adolescents also fuel economic growth by contributing to increased productivity, reduced health expenditure, and the interruption of inter-generational transmission of poor health, poverty and discrimination.
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“For every Naira invested in adolescent health, there is an estimated ten-fold health, social and economic return,” he said.
The Coordinator, AHBN, Dr Aminu Magashi urged that National health strategies and investment plans for UHC must include adolescents.
This, according to him, is with emphasis on the most vulnerable and marginalized adolescents and their families to ensure equity.
Magashi said that investment in vertical or single-issue programmes was rarely efficient.
The coordinator said that adolescents should be empowered to initiate action and influence decisions that affected their health and development through mechanisms that allowed for meaningful participation.
SOURCE: Sun News
