Youth-focused Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Policy; As CRSMOH Partners With NGO,IYAFP To Launch YFFSRH And Right Policy For Cross Riverians

Youth-focused Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Policy; As CRSMOH Partners With NGO,IYAFP To Launch YFFSRH And Right Policy For Cross Riverians

The Cross River State Ministry of Health has in partnership with a Non-Governmental Organization, the International Youth Alliance for Family Planning, IYAFP, launched a youth-friendly focused Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Policy for Cross River State.

Launching the policy in Calabar the state capital, the Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpeyong said although Cross River has an SRHR policy, there was none specifically speaking to the needs of young persons, and it is only right that the gap was addressed.

The DG acting in a dual capacity, as she also represented the Commissioner of Health, Dr Betta Edu said that the state will see to the implementation of the policy to benefit of Cross Riverians.

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\”This policy would help give us that guideline and of course help us to work seamlessly with the youths. I\’m glad that so many organizations are here represented because this will also help in the policy implementation in the state. Be rest assured that we are committed to this and you will have our backing for the full implementation in the state. We will try and see how we can expand to other LGAs so that we can take this across the state.

\”On behalf of the state, I want to thank each and everyone of you who have contributed to the development of this policy. We are really proud of you. And we are also proud that it is being spearheaded by young people themselves which would further make the youths buy into it. I want to say congratulations to you all as we continue to push for the acceptance and uptake of reproductive health services in Cross River State.

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Also speaking, an Advocacy Associate of IYAFP, Ms Goodness Odey, revealed that the project came about as a result of findings revealed that young people in the state faced a lot of barriers in accessing family planning-related services and as such there was a need to act and solve that problem.

Goodness emphasised the need for the Cross River State Government to take ownership of the policy and make it available in all the PHC\’s in the state, and ensure compliance.

On her part, Ms Madonna Badom, an AA of the IYAFP, said the project which is the continuation of the Empowering Evidence Driven Advocacy, EEDA, project, is to help the state government solve the issue that young people have in accessing FP services in health facilities.

Present at the launch was religious leaders of both the Christian and Islamic faith, traditional rulers, NGO\’s and young persons.