In its continued bid to implement
interventions aimed at reducing maternal, neonatal and perinatal mortalities in
Lagos, the State Government has formerly opened Young Mom 's Clinic; the first
of its kind in Nigeria and West Africa.
The Special Adviser to Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga who formerly opened the Clinic noted that clinic is targeted at providing necessary healthcare services for pregnant teenagers and their newborns.
Onanuga while explaining the rationale behind the opening of the Clinic stated that various monitoring results have shown that because of social stigmatization, pregnant teenagers are shy to access antenatal Care services from the existing public health facilities.
He explained that the initial assessment before the pilot was conducted in Lagos Island, revealed that the young people’s knowledge about reproductive health in the community was very poor and that there was a limited access to contraceptives which is proven to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
“So to bridge this gap and address these issues, this Young Mom’s clinic was piloted last year in Lagos Island local government area. Results of the pilot conducted have confirmed that the initiative is laudable and result oriented. ", the Special Adviser said.
He said that since unprotected sex leads to unintended pregnancy amongst young people, a clinic specialized to provide unique services to adolescent pregnant girls such as “The Young Mom's Clinic” is necessary.
Onanuga noted that teenage pregnancy rate in the country is alarming and has become a major health issue because of its harmful implications on girls’ physical, psychological, economic and social status.
He opined that a teenage girl with a baby to take care of is not likely to be able to attain her full potential because of the required nursing care stressing that it is important for everyone to work together to ensure that no child is deprived of her potentials through early motherhood status.
Onanuga added that the State with the assistance of its partners will not relent in its efforts towards ensuring that similar clinics are replicated in all the Local Government Areas in the State.
He noted the State Government has also established Youth Friendly Centres for adolescents and youths adding that these centres are designed to provide reproductive health education, family planning services, counseling and mentoring services to the young populace under a conducive environment that synchronizes with their psychological needs.
“These are called “Hello Lagos” which currently are five in number scattered across the State; and we are working toward having at least one centre per LGA. These centres are administered in collaboration with the relevant Ministries and Agencies such as Education, Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, Primary Health Care Board and Justice”, the Special Adviser said.
Onanuga noted that apart from Oko Awo Youth Friendly Centres, others are situated in LASUTH, Agege, Ogudu, Ajeromi and Alimosho.
He called on all community leaders, parents, community associations and young adults to lend their voices by sensitizing the pregnant teenagers around them to utilize the Clinic effectively.
Earlier, the Head of Lagos Liaison Office of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Omolaso Omosehin noted that studies have shown that pregnant adolescent girls who attend clinics specifically targeted towards their age-group had fewer pregnancy complications and were three times less likely to have caesarian section delivery.
He noted that the Young Mom's Clinic project is set out with the objective of increasing the pregnant adolescent girls’ utilization of maternal health services, increase the pregnant adolescent girls' knowledge about sexual and reproductive health, neonatal care and link the pregnant adolescents to social support services through which they can continue their education or acquisition of a vocational skill.
While noting that the objectives of the project have been met, Omosehin tasked the State Government to document and showcase the result of the project so that other States can learn from it.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman Lagos Island Local Government, Mr.Tijani Olusi promised that registered young mothers of the Clinic would be given free admission to a vocational school run by the Lagos Island Local Government and provided with a take-off fund to start a trade when they successfully complete the training.
Okoro Temitope; a 17 year old young mother who passed through the Clinic while sharing her experience noted that her initial skepticism about acceptance and treatment at the clinic was put to rest as the reception received from the healthcare personnel at the Clinic was warm.
“The first day I came here I was scared that they will reject me but that didn’t happen, we were well received and no one victimized me. We were counseled and encouraged to follow the right path of life, she said”.
She thanked the State Government for instituting the project stressing that she is a living testimony to success of the project.
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