Assessment Report of the National Response to Young People's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Nigeria

Undertaken by the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in collaboration with Action Health Incorporated, the assessment documented in this report was conducted in 2008 in 2 phases: a desk review and a field assessment. The assessment's specific objectives were to review responses to young people's sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programming, to identify gaps and challenges in programming for young people, and to propose action steps for meeting these gaps. The field assessment exercise was conducted in 6 states, one per geopolitical zone, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In each of the 7 study locations visited, key informants were interviewed, and focus group discussions (FGDs) and exit interviews were held with young people at a facility or centre known to provide some components of youth-friendly health services (YFHS).

The study revealed the following: (i) The country is replete with policies and frameworks that seek to promote young people's SRH programming. (ii) Institutional arrangements for implementing programme components of the framework are weak at the national, state, and local government area (LGA) levels. (iii) Awareness of policies, strategic frameworks, and guidelines at state and LGA levels is very low, and political commitment at these levels is inadequate to catalyse an effective response. (iv) There are no budget lines for young people's health and development at the federal, state, and LGA levels. (v) Young people's involvement in SRH programmes is minimal, and their access to adequate and comprehensive SRH information and services is still limited. (vi) Policies, frameworks, guidelines and protocols have not been used at the federal-level health facilities to provide YFHS. (vii) The strengthening of the FMOH Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) unit to coordinate and monitor the national response has not taken place. (viii) There is no synergy of delivery of young people's SRH information and services between the FMOH and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Communication-related recommendations highlighted in the report include: (i) The FMOH should take the lead in mobilising a national multi-sectoral response to young people's SRH. (ii) The FMOH should coordinate the development of national programmes of action including a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan that places young people at the centre. (iii) The state MOH (SMOH) should establish national resource and training centres on young people's SRH. (iv) The Honourable Minister of Health should lead a high-level advocacy campaign to support young people's SRH through mechanisms including the National Economic Council and the National Council of States. (v) The FMOH should mount a vigorous and sustained national health promotion campaign on young people's SRH.