By Umar Dankano Yola
Public health experts have advocated for stoppage of home child delivery by potential mothers especially those with adolescent pregnancy due to complications and consequences surrounding it which demands for thorough medical attention
The health specialists insisted that, the prevention of adolescent pregnancy requires more than medical intervention, the need for accurate information,counselling, supportive families, community engagement and accessible health services
This was part of the resolutions reached at a one-day media engagement organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Adamawa State Government under the European Union Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (EU-SARAH) programme being implemented in Adamawa state.
UNICEF Health Officer Oluseyi Olusunde In his presentation called for stronger involvement of community leaders and other gatekeepers in promoting adolescent health, while emphasising the need to strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers.
Olusunde particularly drew attention to adolescent pregnancy, describing it as “an issue with consequences that extend beyond healthcare to education,economic opportunity and social protection.
Olusunde noted that knowledge acquired through training,effective practice,practical simulation-based training introduced in some facilities help health workers demonstrate and improve their skills in this regard.
“A woman surviving pregnancy is important but surviving without preventable injury, disability, trauma or disrespect is equally important”. Said Olusunde.
He also hammered that the initiative is also another ongoing effort to improve adolescent and young people’s access to healthcare services under the EU-SARAH project, implemented with the support of UNICEF and UNFPA.
He noted that improving confidentiality was central to making healthcare facilities more responsive to the needs of adolescents which also strengthened adolescent-friendly healthcare services by creating safe and confidential spaces where young people can access reproductive health information, counselling and appropriate medical care without fear of stigma or embarrassment.
Olusunde explained that adolescents require an environment where they can freely discuss sensitive health issues and obtain professional guidance without feeling exposed or judged.
The expert emphasized that the quality of information, nutrition, family support and social environment available to adolescents during this period can significantly influence their future health and wellbeing.
Speaking at the dialogue, Dr. Suleiman Sa’idu Bashir, Executive Chairman of the Adamawa state Primary Health Care Dev elopment Agency (ADSPHCDA) said that the media dialogue on maternal mortality in the state aimed at Strengthening information dissemination on maternal and child health.
Dr Bashir applauded the collaboration between the state government and development organisations, describing it as an important avenue for improving healthcare delivery across the state.
Bashir announced that Such partnership with partners has contributed immensely in provision of facility upgrades, better infrastructure ,improved referral systems, and increased utilisation of healthcare facilities.
According to him, such intervention go a long way in assisting the state and its citizens access to remarkable health care services in all nooks and crannies of the state, saying that the Agency was committed to listening to feedback from stakeholders and using such information to improve services.
