Kwara state commissioner for health,Dr Raji AbdulRasaq, Wednesday identified lack of guarantee of “confidentiality” and trust as one of the major reasons why adolescents don’t access primary health care facilities in Nigeria.
The commissioner made the disclosure when he received representatives of non-governmental organisations with bias for adolescents health; Women Environment and Youth Development Initiative (WOYODEV) and the Novel Association for Youth Advocacy in Nigeria (NAYA), Kwara State and Women Friendly Initiative from Abuja in his office.
The courtesy call as parts of advocacy and week long campaign embarked on by the non governmental organisations for domestication of the national guidelines for adolescents and youth friendly services into primary health care facilities in Kwara state.
Addressing the groups,the trained medical doctor said most times physicians were faced with dilemma to protect patient’s rights and the moral obligations to inform parents or guardians of the health status of their children and wards when they visit the hospital.
“That stage is a dangerous stage because if you don’t negotiate and manage it well, it will determine what becomes of that adolescents health status in future”, he said
He said the state government will critically look into the presentation of the groups and harmonise such with existing and relevant health policies in the state to ensure effective implementation.
Earlier in their separate remarks , the executive director, WOYODEV and NAYA ,Mrs. Tosin Apiriola, and her counterpart from WFI, Abuja, Mrs Rosemary Agaji, both lamented that many state governments in the country have poor annual budget provision for adolescent health.
The dou had also at a one-day media dialogue session on promoting integration of adolescent and youth friendly health services in primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Nigeria held in Ilorin Monday, appealed to governments to create a dedicated health centre for adolescent youth friendly health services in all PHCs in Kwara state.
“These health services must have the standards and qualities that young people seek. However, available services are grossly,” Apiriola said.
