ECOWAS youth leaders’ forum on population and development forum organized by The Gambia National Youth Council and African Youth Commission (AYC) under the theme: ICPD25, the contributions of West African Youth to Accelerating the promise opened Wednesday at a local hotel.
Assan Jallow Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youth and Sports, said that this year 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of the ground breaking ‘International Conference on population and Development (ICPD)’, which took place in Cairo in 1994.
“At that conference, 179 governments adopted a programme of Action, recognizing that reproductive health, women’s empowerment and gender equality and the pathway for sustainable development,’’ he said.
He pointed out that, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Republic of the Gambia decided to host the gathering to hear from the young people directly on how they are contributing to accelerating the delivery of Cairo 1994 promises at national level
According to him, the Government of The Gambia under the able leadership of President Adama Barrow has recognized young people as critical actors in national development.
“Since the ushering of new Gambia, government has supported numerous youth development programmes and initiatives in the fields of health, education, skills development, sports’’, he added.
Karamba Keita, Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health said population and development are part of health and the majority of health service beneficiaries are young people.
He pointed out that, the mission of the Ministry of Health is to contribute to socioeconomic development and wealth creation by promoting, protecting the health of the population through quality health care.
“The Ministry remains committed to supporting youth development and empowerment particularly investing in young people’s health and education’’, he said.
Dr. Mongbo Medessi Armand, on behalf of Director General West African Health Organisation (WAHO), said as part of WAHO mandate, sponsors young people and their associations to attend regional and international events.
He pointed out that, sexual and reproductive health problems affecting adolescent and young people in ECOWAS member States includes early marriage with its attendant health issues.
“Since the 1994 ICPD, much progress has been made, but the road to achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive quality health services, rights for young people, remain long,’’ he said.
Ambassador Vabah Kazaku Gayflor, representative of ECOWAS to The Gambia reiterated that the impact of population dynamics must be better integrated into national, regional and international strategies, as tackling development challenges which requires the participation of all stakeholders