By John Dike
Osun State Commissioner for Health, Jola Akintola, has called for the active inclusion of adolescents in health policy formulation and decision-making to ensure that their voices are heard and their specific healthcare needs are adequately addressed.
He made the call during a press briefing to commemorate the 2026 International Adolescent Health Week (IAHW), held at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) of the Ministry of Health, Abere, Osogbo.
The event, themed “Nothing About Us Without Us: Power, Voice and Health Equity for All Adolescents,” highlighted the importance of adolescent participation in decisions affecting their health, welfare and development.
The commissioner described adolescents as vital to the future of society, stressing that they should be actively involved in developing policies and programmes that affect their well-being.
According to him, the theme reinforces the need to give adolescents a voice in decisions that directly affect them while ensuring equitable access to healthcare services, relevant health information and appropriate support systems.
He also urged policymakers and other stakeholders to create an enabling environment where adolescents could freely express their concerns, access youth-friendly health services and contribute meaningfully to decisions concerning their health and development.
Akintola’s call underscored the importance of adopting inclusive approaches to adolescent healthcare, particularly in ensuring that young people receive the information, services and support required to make informed decisions about their well-being.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Shina Igbalaye, expressed appreciation to the organisers, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), The Challenge Initiative (TCI), healthcare facility teams, students and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the programme.
Igbalaye said he had been briefed by the health facility on the activities and developments surrounding the programme, expressing satisfaction with the participants’ willingness to support the initiative.
He particularly commended the students in attendance, describing the programme as a valuable opportunity for them to acquire knowledge, develop their professional interests and contribute to improving community health.
The executive secretary further emphasised that collective commitment and collaboration among government agencies, development partners, healthcare professionals, young people and other stakeholders remained essential to improving adolescent and youth health outcomes.
He called for sustained cooperation among stakeholders to strengthen healthcare delivery and ensure that adolescents and young people benefit from inclusive and accessible health services
