Stakeholders Reaffirm Commitment to Advancing SRHR Access for Africa’s Youth
Stakeholders including development partners, healthcare innovators, and policymakers has renewed their collective commitment to scaling up investment and action for adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) across Africa.
This was the core of discussions at the National Policy Dialogue on Improving Adolescent Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, held recently in Abuja with theme: “Closing Reproductive Health Impact Gaps: Strategic Approaches for Equity and Access,” the event spotlighted the urgent need for inclusive, youth-centered strategies to close persistent health disparities among adolescents, particularly young girls, across Nigeria and the continent.
Stakeholder Commitments and Action Areas
Financial Investment in SRHR:
Stakeholders called for dedicated budget lines for family planning and youth SRHR services, with emphasis on removing restrictive legal and policy frameworks that hinder adolescent access.
Evidence-Based and Youth-Led Interventions:
Participants stressed the need for programs informed by local data, designed with direct input from young people, and tailored to the diverse realities faced by adolescents in rural and urban settings.
Private Sector Commitment:
Organon, a pharmaceutical company, reaffirmed its commitment under the FP2030 initiative to prevent 120 million unintended pregnancies, having already met 55% of its target. The organization advocated for stronger government prioritization of SRHR in public spending.
Culturally Responsive Technology Solutions:
Tiko Nigeria showcased its hybrid digital and offline ecosystem that connects adolescents to vetted health services, leveraging both mobile platforms and physical referral cards for girls without smartphone access.
Youth-Driven Innovation and Storytelling:
FP2030 and IYAFP (International Youth Alliance for Family Planning) emphasized empowering youth not only as beneficiaries but as designers and leaders of SRHR initiatives. Innovations like HPV self-sampling kits and “Lemon kits” for discreet STI testing were presented as tools designed with privacy and stigma reduction in mind.
Digital Education and Confidentiality Tools:
Healthtracka introduced Lola AI, a WhatsApp-based chatbot offering non-judgmental SRHR education. This tool supports adolescent girls seeking confidential and safe information amidst societal taboos.
Multi-Sector Collaboration:
The dialogue concluded with a strong call for cross-sector coordination—engaging health, education, finance, and community systems—to ensure sustainable, equitable access to SRHR services for adolescents across Africa.
Key Highlights
Stakeholders call for increased and targeted investment in adolescent SRHR across Africa.
Organon commits to preventing 120 million unintended pregnancies under FP2030.
Experts warn that policy gaps and lack of access continue to limit girls’ futures and economic potential.
Tiko Nigeria promotes tech-enabled and low-tech solutions for inclusive access.
FP2030 and IYAFP champion youth-led program design and stigma-free tools like self-sampling kits.
Lola AI provides discreet, friendly access to SRHR info via WhatsApp.
Persistent barriers include shame, misinformation, and limited youth-friendly services.
Final consensus: normalize youth access to SRHR through dignity, data, and design.
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