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By Precious Nwonu
Key players in Nigeria’s health sector have converged in Enugu State for a high-level Stakeholder Co-Creation Meeting aimed at improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services through the Access to Comprehensive Care and Essential Support Services (ACCESS) Programme.
The meeting, convened under the ACCESS Programme, brought together representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoHSW), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office, alongside state health authorities and development partners. The initiative, led by the Government of Nigeria and implemented in partnership with WCAHealth and other state actors, is currently focused on Enugu State, particularly Igbo Eze North and Isu Uzo Local Government Areas.
ACCESS is designed to address longstanding barriers that prevent adolescents and young people from accessing accurate sexual and reproductive health information and services. These challenges, often driven by cultural, social, and geographic limitations, have made it difficult for health facilities alone to meet the needs of young people. In response, the programme adopts a coordinated, community-based approach that strengthens demand for services, improves referral systems, and promotes adolescent-friendly care.
Speaking during the engagement, stakeholders emphasized the importance of collaboration in delivering impactful health interventions. The co-creation meeting served as a platform for aligning strategies, strengthening coordination between government institutions and implementing organisations, and ensuring that programme delivery reflects the realities of local communities. It also reinforced accountability within the SWAp framework and highlighted the need for a unified approach to adolescent health.
Participants included officials from the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ministries of Health and Education, SWAp focal persons, and development partners such as SFH, MSI Nigeria, LSDF, Solina, and media organisations working within the SRH space.
A major highlight of the ACCESS Programme is its two-tier community model, which centres on “Big Sisters” and “Little Sisters.” The Big Sisters are trained community women who serve as peer mentors, providing adolescents with accurate SRH information, guidance, and referral support to adolescent-friendly primary health care facilities. The Little Sisters, who are adolescent girls, are organised into groups where they engage in structured discussions and receive support to access appropriate health services.
This model is expected to bridge the gap between households and health facilities by building trust within communities and reducing the stigma often associated with seeking sexual and reproductive health services.
Stakeholders noted that the co-creation process marks a shift from fragmented interventions to coordinated planning, ensuring that all actors work toward shared goals. By fostering open dialogue and joint ownership, the initiative is set to strengthen service delivery and improve health outcomes for adolescents across the state.
The ACCESS Programme emphasized on the Federal Government’s commitment to prioritising adolescent health by improving knowledge, enhancing access to services, and promoting positive health-seeking behaviours. It is also expected to contribute to broader system strengthening efforts, including better referral pathways and increased utilisation of youth-friendly health services.
As implementation progresses, stakeholders remain optimistic that the coordinated approach will deliver sustainable impact and help address maternal and adolescent health challenges in Enugu State and beyond.
