120 Imo health workers trained on adolescent, youth friendly health services

By Chigozie Uzosike

For many young people, visiting a health facility can be intimidating, often shaped by fear of judgment, lack of privacy, or simply not feeling understood.

In Imo State, however, efforts are underway to change that experience as strategic move to make healthcare more accessible and welcoming for adolescents and youths of Imo State has been activated with 120 healthcare workers being trained on youth-friendly health services and school outreach systems.

The training, held on March 24, 2026, was organised through a partnership between the Community and Youth Development Initiatives (CYDI) and the Imo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ISPHCDA), with support from UNESCO, at the Agency’s headquarters in Owerri West Local Government Area.

Speaking during the opening session, the State Adolescent Health Desk Officer, Mrs. Sabina Nwaru, of the Imo State Ministry of Health, emphasized that while strong policy frameworks exist, their real impact depends on effective implementation. She noted that healthcare workers play a critical role in bridging the gap between policy and the realities of young people.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of CYDI, Mr. Felxfame Omovie Enisire, explained that the initiative is designed to improve adolescents’ access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information and youth-friendly services by strengthening provider capacity and building stronger linkages between schools and health facilities.

Providing technical guidance during the sessions, Development Consultant, Mr. Benjamin Mbakwem emphasized that youth-friendly services must go beyond availability to focus on how care is delivered. He highlighted the need for services that are respectful, confidential, and non-judgmental, noting that these are key to building trust among young people.

Participants were also equipped with practical skills to plan school outreaches, provide basic counselling and screenings, and establish effective referral systems that connect students to nearby health facilities, ensuring continuity of care.

The training forms part of the broader UNESCO O3 Education for Health and Wellbeing (O3 EHW) Project, “Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future,” which promotes comprehensive sexuality education through Family Life and Health Education (FLHE). The project has reached over 34 million learners across the region and, in Imo State, has trained more than 3,500 teachers across 19 LGAs, while strengthening parent–child communication through PTA engagement.

With these combined efforts, stakeholders are confident that the initiative will improve service uptake, strengthen trust in the health system, and ultimately deliver better health outcomes for adolescents across the state.