AFRO-NETS> New Adolescent Reproductive Health 'Hotline' in Nigeria

[A Odutola <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>]

New Adolescent Reproductive Health 'Hotline' in Nigeria
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Lagos State Government launches ARH "hotline" on cell phones

Vanguard
Published Date: March 11 2003
By Chioma Obinna, Nigeria 


Riding on the wave of adoption of cell phones by youths in Nigeria 
and worried by increasing reproductive health problems in the coun-
try, Lagos State Government recently commenced an adolescent (cell 
phone based) health programme to be known as "Hello Lagos Scheme" to 
take care of reproductive health problems among youths in Lagos 
State.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan disclosed this at the 
official opening of Youth Action Rangers Office (YARN) in Lagos ex-
plaining that his government intended that the youth should be pro-
vided with an atmosphere that is safe and confidential unlike what 
obtains in most hospitals.

His words: "The programme is located at the Lagos State Teaching Hos-
pital and designated (cell phone) numbers have been made available 
such as 08029000006, 08029000007 and 08029000008 for them to phone in 
to make enquiries about reproductive health problems if they cannot 
go there physically. Trained counsellors are on duty to attend to 
such enquiries. What we have in our hospitals are safe but not confi-
dential therefore the youth naturally will run away."

He added that the youths would be counselled by professionals in 
various field like psychologists, gynaecologists, psychiatrists 
amongst others. 

Source: Vanguard, Tuesday, March 11, 2003. Pg: 25. 
By Chioma Obinna

--
A. Odutola
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com

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