Youths Urged to Regulate World Population, Food Supply with Their Reproductive Health.

By Lucky Isibor.

A university Don and Chief Responsibility Officer of Josemaria Escriva Foundation (JOSEF), Dr. Jude Obasanmi has admonished youths to be mindful of their reproductive health adding that if they do, they stand the chance of regulating world population and food supply. 

Dr. Obasanmi gave the admonishion at JOSEF activities marking this year's International Youth Day with the theme : Transforming Food Systems : Innovation for Human Planetary Health". 

This year's celebration which was celebrated by JOSEF in conjunction with the Challenge Initiative TCI, Connected Advocacy and Edo State Ministry of Health took place simultaneously at Ekpoma, Auchi and Igueben.

Addressing young persons during an outreach at Ekpoma, Esan West LGA, the Chief Responsibility Officer of JOSEF,  Dr. Jude Obasanmi said the theme for the 2021 International Youth Day was apt in the sense that it has now been recognized globally that for there to be a transformation in the Food system, the youths must be involved. He recalled the Malthusian theory where the world’s population was increasing at a geometric rate while the food supply was increasing at an arithmetic rate despite the increasing innovations in the sector.

According to Obasanmi, "if youths are mindful with their reproductive health, they stand a better chance of regulating the world’s population and also food supplies.

"No meaningful transformation can be conducted without the active participation of young persons. I call on government, development actors (CSOs. NGOs, FBOs and CBOs) and individuals to support systems that engage and reward young people who venture into agriculture and other endeavours in life."

On his part, the Demand Generation Officer of TCI, Mr. Arome Andrew said TCI was  interested in the reproductive health of adolescents and youths and called on all to embrace the various life planning services that are available in the communities adding that "If this is done, the youths have a possibility of having a fulfilled reproductive life."

 He commended JOSEF and Connected Advocacy for championing the course of adolescents and reproductive health in the state. 

The Reproductive Health Officer in Esan West, Mrs Otobore Philomena while speaking  on the need for young persons to obtain reproductive and clinical health care from government accredited health centres, warned of the consequencies  of patronizing quarks which may result to sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion, adding that there are trained nurses to render counseling and other services that the youths might need. 

In their separate remarks, two Life Planning Ambassadors for Youths and Adolescents, Miss. Racheal Abhulimen and Mr. Iyanuoluwa Damilare, urged young persons to be mindful of their relationships and work towards a better future. According to them, "when young persons know themselves, they know where they are going to. There would be no future without youths as no healthy future without healthy youths. A healthy youth population would boost food production in the state."

The Chairman, Edo State Technical Working Group for Adolescent and Youth Health Development (TWGAYHD), Dr. Bright Oniovokukor in his message to those that marked the day outside Benin City, appreciated the efforts of JOSEF, Connected Advocacy , TCI and the various Reproductive Health Offices for taking the commemoration of the International Youths Day 2021 beyond  Benin City to other Local Governments. He expressed satisfaction that at least the three Senatorial Districts of Edo State were reached and efforts would be in place to ensure that no adolescent and youth in the state would be left out in subsequent events as it relates to adolescent and youths. 

He then called on all stakeholders to be ready and be responsive to calls and concern that affect the adolescent and young people as there should be conscious efforts to prepare them from now on to take charge.