The Federal Government has inaugurated Yo! Health, a youth-focused health awareness initiative aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and equipping young Nigerians with the knowledge and tools to take charge of their health.
Mr Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, who unveiled the initiative in Abuja on Thursday, said that it was a move to prioritise the well-being of the nation’s youth.
According to him the initiative addresses growing health concerns among young people by providing access to credible health information, encouraging preventive healthcare, and promoting mental, sexual, and physical well-being.
Olawande said that good health was essential for young people to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
He said that YO! Health was designed to improve access to essential health services while promoting awareness, education, and preventive care.
According to him, It aims to strengthen mental health advocacy, encourage healthier lifestyles, and foster active community participation among youth.
“This initiative is built on six strategic pillars.
“They are Mental Health; Alcohol, Drug and Substance Abuse; Communicable Diseases; Health Insurance (especially for youth in the informal sector); Non-Communicable Diseases; and Sexual and Reproductive Health,” Olawande said.
He said that these pillars were not selected arbitrarily but grounded in data and informed by the lived experiences and authentic voices of young Nigerians.
The minister said that the initiative was guided by four core objectives: Raising Awareness, Empowering Youth, Advocacy and Policy Influence, and Co-Design and Implementation.
“Yo! Health is a collaborative effort, involving the Federal Ministries of Health and Women Affairs, alongside partners from civil society, international development agencies, the private sector, and youth organisations,” he said.
The Minister commended the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, and thanked and all partners for their continued support and commitment to the initiative.
Also speaking Prof. Muhammad Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health said that Nigeria’s population was about 235 million, 75 per cent of which constitutes those below the age of 35 years.
Pate said that of these, 24 per cent fall into the youths’ mid-bracket.
According to him, the objectives of the Youth Health Initiative are very clear and instructive.
“The objectives are, raising awareness on critical health issues affecting young people, and empowering youths to take greater ownership of their health,” he said.
Pate said that there was a need to advocate for policy and behavioral change that improve youths’ health.And to develop and co-implement related programmes.
“The initiative has clearly identified some of these challenges, which include but not limited to mental health, alcohol and substance use, communicable diseases, which are usually diseases of youth like HPV, HIV, STI, and non-communicable diseases.
“There is also obesity, which is a growing challenge for the country now,” he said.
