Fellows of the National Health Fellowship Programme (NHFP) have said that lasting adolescent changes begin with the empowerment of boys and girls.
A fellow representing NHFP Calabar Municipality, Ms Catherine Modey, said this on Saturday, during a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River Council.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NHFP is an initiative of the Federal Government designed to strengthen Nigeria’s health sector by training young professionals nationwide.
Modey said that their interventions aim at sustaining community development, through partnerships with government institutions, communities and the media.
She said that ongoing engagements with the state’s Ministry of Health as well as implementation of initiatives, was targeted at improving public health outcomes.
“The fellowship develops young health leaders in leadership, policy engagement, and project organisation while delivering impact-driven interventions.
“We have outlined a sexual and reproductive health project targeting about 700 students, designed to educate both girls and boys.
“Inclusive health education and empowering boys alongside girls, are critical to achieving lasting behavioural changes among adolescents,” she said.
She also unveiled plans for a pilot vocational empowerment project, including training students to produce reusable sanitary materials.
The group said that the project would reduce financial pressure on families, and equip students with income-generating skills, and plans to expand to rural communities.
Reacting to the initiative, Chairman of the Cross River Council of NUJ, Ms Archibong Bassey, hailed commitment of the fellows, and pledged media support to amplify their programmes.
Bassey urged regular updates and short videos, to aid effective storytelling on the health advocacy initiatives.
She also hinted on her ‘Padbank’ Mobile Outreach, which supports girls with sanitary towels and menstrual hygiene education, adding that she had visited schools in Cross River to distribute sanitary towels.
NAN reports that the NUJ council and NHFP, agree that their collaboration for a joint outreach, will aid effective information sharing, which is vital to improving health outcomes in the state.
