The Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services has made a significant leap in adolescent healthcare with the inauguration of the State’s Technical Working Group on Adolescent and Young People’s Health and Development (STWGAYHD).
The initiative, designed to address the unique health challenges faced by young people, aligns with global and national health policies, and furthers the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on health and well-being.
Representing the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Gbenga-Ikotun, led the inauguration attended by health professionals and youth advocates. The newly formed group brings together experts in medical and public health fields, alongside civil society organizations, to focus on critical issues such as reproductive health, mental health, and girl-child education. Their mission: to ensure the state’s youth are empowered and have access to responsive healthcare solutions.
Professor Babatunde Olofinbiyi, CEO of Adolescent Friendly Research Initiative and Care (ADOLFRIC) and a leading figure in adolescent reproductive health, expressed his immense joy at the development. “My joy knows no bounds,” he said, commending the ministry’s leadership and pledging full support for the initiative.
With this bold move, Ekiti State is positioning itself as a leader in addressing adolescent health challenges, setting a benchmark for others to follow.
