THE Kwara Government has established special health facilities and services geared toward optimal health and development of adolescent and young people in the state.

Dr Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the state Primary Health Care Development Agency, said this on Monday in Ilorin during a news conference organised in commemoration of 2023 International Adolescent Health Week.

She said that the state government would ensure adolescents have access to these health facilities that were youth friendly.

According to her, young people between the ages of 10 and 24 years constitute about a third of Nigeria’s population, which is a major force in the country’s development.

She said this was a unique stage of human capital development and an important time for laying the foundation for so many attributes in life.

“The optimal health and development of adolescent and young people is therefore critical in achieving the sustainable development goals.

“As a result, the adolescent health has attracted significant attention from government and partners globally,” she said.

Elelu explained that the international communities annually commemorated International Adolescents Health Week to inspire the youths and their communities to advocate for a successful transition into adulthood.

She pointed out that during the week, attention to various issues affecting the health and development of adolescent would be discussed.

She listed such salient discourse to include gender based violence, mental health, sexually transmitted infections, early marriage, unplanned pregnancy and HIV/AIDs.

The executive secretary explained that the state government would continuously sensitise and create awareness in order to improve adolescents health and development.

Dr Michael Oguntoye, a Director of the agency, said that the state government had strengthened capacity to ensure youths have access to prompt and effective services.

He explained that health workers had also built-on and improved their capacity to be able to help the youths overcome the challenges they face, including rape victims.

According to him, it is not easy to get the youths to open up about their challenges and the trauma they face.

He, however, said that with the availability of youth friendly health facilities and professionals, they could get the required help needed.

Mrs Elizabeth Gabi, the Coordinator of Maternal Neonatal Child Health Care, commended government commitment toward the welfare of adolescents in the state.

(NAN)