Publication date: Sunday, 4th May, 2008
By Anthony Bugembe
in Abuja, Nigeria
DEVELOPING countries should develop policies for the youth basing on proper research, the UN Population Fund expert has said.
“Many policies for adolescents have achieved nothing because they are based on assumptions,” said Laura Laski, a senior technical adviser.
“If we are to identify the needs and vulnerabilities of adolescents in the developing countries, then we must base our policies on evidence generated from research. The evidence will help us to develop and provide the youth-friendly reproductive services.”
For developing countries to fully achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Laski said, they should realise the potential of the youth.
She was addressing an international conference on investing in young people’s health and development recently at Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria.
The conference was organised by The Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health and other partners.
Laski outlined the need for policy makers to scale up interventions targeting female adolescents because they were more vulnerable to social and reproductive health challenges.
Turai Umar Yar ‘Adua, the Nigerian first lady, said only well-prepared youth would be able to help the continent develop.
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