The Federal Government and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria, along with other stakeholders, have called for the reinforcement of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) to improve health outcomes and protect against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and violence. This advocacy was made during an event organized by AHF Nigeria to commemorate the 2024 International Day of the African Child (IDAC) in Abuja, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Kemi Gbadamosi, Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Marketing at the AHF Africa Bureau, emphasized that CSE is crucial for addressing the rising rates of new HIV infections, STIs, and unplanned pregnancies among youths. She highlighted the alarming statistic that 4,000 young people globally, aged 15 to 24, contract HIV weekly, with Africa bearing the brunt of these new infections.
“We are looking at fostering education and health through CSE because, as an HIV/AIDS organization, we see new infection rates among young people every week,” Gbadamosi stated. “The spike in infection rates is partly due to a lack of access to the right information, sexual reproductive health services, and tools like CSE.”
Gbadamosi explained that age-appropriate CSE helps reduce HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and instances of gender-based violence (GBV), while promoting gender equality. She addressed the misconception that CSE promotes promiscuity, asserting that informed youths make better decisions and are more capable of protecting themselves from violence and harassment.
“We have always faced pushback from parents and community leaders who believe that sexuality education promotes promiscuity,” she said. “However, research shows that CSE actually protects young people, builds their self-esteem, and enables them to make more informed choices.”
Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, reinforced the importance of CSE, noting that it improves health outcomes and empowers youths to make informed choices, thus reducing the risks of contracting HIV, other STIs, and unwanted pregnancies.
Mrs. Mariam Shu’aibu, Assistant Director of Child Development at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with AHF to combat issues like child marriage and HIV through enhanced CSE programs. Similarly, Mrs. Okhilua Maria, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation representing the Secretary of the FCT Education Board, stressed the necessity of equipping youths with correct information to counter misinformation available on social media.
Njideka Ogbuke, Assistant Director of the Education Support Department at the Federal Ministry of Information, pointed out that well-informed youths are less likely to be swayed by inappropriate content online, as they would already possess the knowledge to reject such material.
Miss Isabel Anani, a UNICEF Young Influencer from Stand with Girl Initiative, urged young people to resist peer pressure and prioritize their future by making informed decisions.
The event saw participation from various government agencies, NGOs, youth groups, parents, and schools, focusing on enhancing sexual and reproductive health education among youths.