Towards ensuring adequate counsel and treatment in a friendly atmosphere for the adolescent and the youth of Ondo State, the state government in collaboration with the federal government has organised a four-day training for service providers on new protocol job aid.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, at the event on Monday, explained that the training was a follow-up to the national launch and training of key stakeholders on the use of national guidelines for integration of adolescents and youth-friendly services into health facilities in the country.

While stating that adolescents and youths comprise a significant proportion of Nigeria's populace and play important role in national development, he observed that, though they constitute an asset, they could be a great challenge.

According to him, 60 per cent of the entire population of the state are youths; he expressed optimism that the protocol-job aid would promote high-quality health services for the adolescent in Nigeria.

“There is need for the health providers to be trained on the use of the protocol-job aid in order to ensure that young people that visit them receive needed counselling at all times,” Dr Adeyanju said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Taiye Oni, described the training as a right step in the right direction.

 “Ondo State had been recognised both within and outside the state for its various laudable achievements in the health sector and with youths being the leaders of tomorrow, there is need to give them adequate attention at all times,” Dr Oni said.

Dr Oni urged participants to take full advantage of the training in order to justify the reason for bringing them together; noting that low quality of healthcare services had contributed to increase in risky behaviour of the youth.

Also in her speech, the Deputy Director, service improvement health promotion division, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Ladi Ayegbusi, said the training would further inform the health providers on how best to relate with youths.

She, however, commended the state government for playing a vital role in ensuring that qualitative health care is available to all and sundry.