Adolescent girls in Adamawa have appealed for empowerment opportunities, access to menstrual kits, improved sanitary environments, and the establishment of safe spaces to enhance their reproductive and mental well-being.

They made the appeal on Thursday at a two-day training with the theme “Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (SARAH) Initiative” in commemoration of ‘Adolescent Girls’ Week’ in Yola.

The training is a four-year project funded by the European Union in collaboration with the Adamawa government.

The initiative is being implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Adamawa, Kwara and Sokoto states.

Speaking at the event, Eglah Dauda-Gah, adolescents team lead for Adamawa, said menstrual hygiene remained a major concern for adolescent girls in the state.

She said that many girls could not afford sanitary materials, forcing some to miss school and stay home during their menstrual periods.

“We want to be empowered to make reusable menstrual pads by ourselves because not all of us can afford them.

“Empowerment will also reduce cases of gender-based violence, early pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections,” she said.

Ms Dauda-Gah further called for the establishment of safe spaces in health facilities where adolescents could speak freely about reproductive or mental health challenges without fear of stigma.

Also speaking, Ruth Joshua, an adolescent team member, described the training as impactful and life-changing.

According to her, the introduction of the SARAH Project in Adamawa in 2024 had helped the government prioritise the needs of adolescent girls in the state.

“I have been trained and empowered. I learnt about self-esteem, building confidence, setting boundaries, and understanding my value.

“I intend to share this knowledge with other girls in my community so they can make informed choices for their well-being,” she said.

Olusheyi Olusunde, UNICEF health officer and project coordinator, said 32 adolescent girls were trained as ambassadors to influence their peers on mental health, menstrual hygiene, nutrition, and positive lifestyle.

“We expect that with this empowerment, more girls will be confident to visit health facilities, speak out on issues affecting them, and engage in productive ventures,” he said.

Sunday Stephen of the Adamawa Primary Health Care Development Agency highlighted challenges in adolescent health services, including inadequate personnel, service gaps, and stigma.

He noted that under the EU-SARAH initiative, one-stop shop care centres have been established in five local government areas, with plans to extend them across all wards.

“So far, 319 health workers have been trained to respond to the needs of adolescent girls, including pregnant teens, from 15 to 19 years old and provide specialised care.

“Safe spaces have also been created at the centres and adolescent clubs established in all the 226 wards,” he added.

(NAN)