SRHR: HFDI Nigeria Holds Co-Creation Dialogue in Moro LGA to Strengthen Youth-Friendly Health Services
…Stakeholders Stress Respect, Privacy and Community Partnership as Key to Effective SRHR Service Delivery…
Hope for Family Development Initiative, HFDI Nigeria, has called for more respectful, confidential, and inclusive health services for young people, saying this is critical to improving access to care at the Primary Health Care level.
The call was made during a co-creation dialogue held in Elemere, Moro LGA in Kwara state, under the Jhpiego Project on Advancing Integrated Health Service Delivery for SRHR and Communicable Diseases
The engagement brought together participants including PHC providers, CSO representatives, community members and religious leaders, to discuss barriers to health service access and jointly develop practical solutions.
Speaking at the dialogue, HFDI facilitators noted that Youth-friendly health services can only be effective when young people feel respected, their privacy is protected, and communities and health providers work together to address barriers to care.
Participants identified several factors affecting access to health services for young people and other community members such as provider attitude which Young people said they often feel shy or uncomfortable seeking care, especially for sensitive services. They called for welcoming, respectful, and nonjudgmental services from healthcare workers.
Privacy and Confidentiality was also highlighted and the Stakeholders emphasized that privacy is essential for trust, particularly for HIV testing, STI services, and family planning, adding that young people must be able to access care without fear of judgment or disclosure.
Integrated Service Delivery was discussed for better coordination of family planning, HIV/STI prevention and testing, GBV support, cervical cancer awareness, and referrals at PHC level, and Providers highlighted workload and limited resources as constraints affecting quality of care. Participants called for more support for health workers.
The dialogue noted the gas identified and stressed the importance of CSOs, community structures, and religious leaders in awareness creation, mobilization, referrals, follow-up, and stigma reduction.
Religious and community leaders were encouraged to use their trusted positions to promote health messages and support adolescent health rights.
At the end of the session, participants agreed on key co-created strategies, and a shared commitment to sustain collaboration and address identified gaps to ensure young people and other community members access quality health services in a respectful, confidential, and supportive environment.
The dialogue facilitated by Hope for Family Development Initiative HFDI also reinforced the positive relationship already existing between the Elemere PHC and the community.
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