Strengthening Youth-Serving Coalition for the Implementation of Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Services (AYFHS)

Project Name: Strengthening Youth-Serving Coalition for the Implementation of Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Services (AYFHS) in Benue, Kwara, Nasarawa States and FCT, Nigeria (2019-2020)

NAYA in collaboration with Women Friendly Initiative, a non -governmental organization based in Nigeria advocated to policy makers at the Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care Agency in Benue, Kwara and Nasarawa states and the Federal Capital Territory to implement the “National Guidelines on Promoting Access of Young People to Adolescent and Youth Friendly Health Services in Primary Health Care Facilities in Nigeria” and “National Guidelines for Integration of Adolescent and Youth Friendly Health Services into Primary Health Care Facilities in Nigeria”.

Both guidelines form a convergence between supply and demand for free Adolescent and Youth Friendly Health Services including family planning at Primary Health Care level. NAYA specific ASK is for stakeholders to create and fund dedicated budget line for AYFHS, integrate AYFHS into existing Primary Health care facilities, support continuous capacity building of service providers on AYFHS and equip AYFHS centres with medical supplies and family planning commodities.

The technical skills NAYA members across the 3 states and FCT was strengthened by WFI for effective advocacy, including resource mobilization and accountability to advocate and hold stakeholders accountable for the implementation for implementation of the policy documents.

A specific budget line for Adolescent youth family planning and reproductive health was created in Nasarawa started following advocacy.

A state Technical Working Group for adolescent and youth reproductive health was constituted in Nasarawa state.

The Executive Secretary of Benue State Primary Health Care Board dedicated one Primary Health Care Facilities from each of the senatorial zones of the state totaling three as pilots for free family planning and other adolescent and youth reproductive health services

Three Adolescent Youth Friendly Health Clinics were enhanced in terms of structures and aesthetic appeal in Lafia, Akwanga and Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa state to provide family planning and reproductive health services.

Four PHC facilities in Kwara enhanced in structure and functions to provide AYFHS.

Three (3) PHC facilities designated as AYFHS and 25 health workers trained on AYFHS in Benue state