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Ministry of Health and General Education Presentation on the Adolescent Health

This presentation by the Ministry of Health and General Education in Zambia discusses the goal and objectives of the Adolescent Health Program, focusing on improving the health status of adolescents. It highlights the challenges faced by adolescents, such as HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and early pregnancies, and proposes solutions like comprehensive sexuality education, peer education, and community engagement. The presentation calls for action from religious leaders, health workers, parents, and policymakers to address these challenges and empower young people with the necessary information and support.

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Ministry of Health and General Education Presentation on the Adolescent Health

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  1. Ministry of Health and General Education Presentation on the Adolescent Health

  2. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ADOLESCENT HEALTH PROGRAMME Goal • To improve the health status of adolescents in Zambia Objectives • Adolescents visit health facilities to get advice on any health issues and get treatment when necessary • Health workers offer friendly health services • Reduction in diseases such as HIV, mental health diseases, substance abuse as well as in teenage pregnancies • Have an educated population of young people

  3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION • Adolescents are young people below the age of 20 years (10 to 19 years old) • Form 25% of the population in Zambia • At this age they explore and experiment because of changes in their bodies and the rapid growth of the brain • Some adolescents take up behaviors that undermine their health (including alcohol abuse, high risk sexual practices)

  4. PROBLEMS FACING ADOLESCENTS • HIV/AIDS/STIs are high among young people in Zambia( 1 out of 20 adolescents has HIV) • They engage in early and unprotected sex (40% sexually active) • Some young people are sexually abused (20% female, 10% males)

  5. PROBLEMS FACING ADOLESCENTS • Drugs and alcohol abuse • commercial sex • Mental health problems ( including suicide) • Early marriages and pregnancies leading to school dropout

  6. 2009 TEENAGE PREGNANCIES FROM GRADE 1-12 (2010:Restless Development: UNICEF)

  7. SCHOOL DROP OUT DUE TO PREGNANCY

  8. 2015 PREGNANCIES AND RE-ADMISSIONS GRADES 1 TO 12

  9. 2015 PERCENTAGE OF RE-ADMISSION PER PROVINCE GRADES 1 TO 12

  10. EDUCATION POLICY DIRECTION • The 1996 National Policy on Education, recognised the importance of Equipping young people in school with Sexuality Education

  11. COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION 1. Relationships 2. Values, Attitudes and Skills 3. Culture, Society and Human Rights 4. Human Development 5. Sexual Behaviour 6. Sexual and Reproductive Health

  12. IN WHICH SUBJECTS IS CSE?

  13. ACTIVITIES BEING DONE • Trained peer educators (youths) and health workers will educate communities on problems affecting adolescents and young people and how to prevent them: • HIV/AIDs/ sexually transmitted infections • unintended pregnancy • Malnutrition • drug and substance abuse • gender based violence

  14. CHALLENGES • Young people reaching puberty early and wanting to explore sexuality • Inadequate information on health issues and consequences of risky behavior • Peer pressure arising from exposure to information on social media, TV etc

  15. CHALLENGES • Identity issues- risk to succumb to peer pressure • Inadequate or no time/skill/confidence by parents, guardians and community leaders to provide counsel (too busy,not comfortable, thinking adolescents are still too young)

  16. CHALLENGES • Non availability of adequate, diverse and attractive recreation activities for adolescents (including skills development) • Changing cultural norms- dress code, human rights, • Sexual abuse and financial challenges

  17. CALL TO ACTION • Establish regular health education programmes for young people to empower them with accurate information on mental health, reproductive health, HIV/AIDs and other health issues • Health workers within the religious setting or from district health offices

  18. CALL TO ACTION • Identify and appoint people within the religious setting to act as confidants (adolescents have challenges and questions but cannot open up to parents) • Establish/strengthen counselling and life skills programmes in religious settings to empower young people with skills to be assertive, resist peer pressure and abstain from sex

  19. CALL TO ACTION • Promote diverse youth activities to keep the young people busy • Embrace/consider pre- and in- service training of religious leaders in adolescent health to help them understand and design programmes and activities to respond to health challenges affecting adolescents.

  20. CALL TO ACTION • Introduce programmes to empower parents/guardians with skills to initiate and have discussions with their children as regards reproductive health and other social issues • Identify and refer to health facilities young people in need of health services

  21. Thank you

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