Oro Youth and TCI Showcase Innovations for Kagay-anon Youth at the AdHLEx Forum in Manila
News
Cagayan de Oro City once faced a troubling issue with student drop-outs due to teen pregnancy, with an adolescent birth rate of 47 per 1,000 in 2018. However, in just five years, that rate has dropped to 36 per 1,000 in 2023. The city’s modern contraceptive use also increased from 29% in 2020 to 33% in 2023, moving closer to its goal of becoming a youth-friendly city.
These positive changes are thanks to new approaches in adolescent sexual and reproductive health services and campaigns led by various agencies. The city has been part of The Challenge Initiative (TCI) Program of the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) since 2020, which helped bring together a network of organizations, including the city health office, youth office, and schools, to work on these issues.
These innovative efforts were highlighted at the first National Highways for Adolescent Health Learning Exchange (AdHLEx) Forum in Metro Manila from August 12 to 15, 2024. The theme was “Building the Expressways Towards Adolescent Health and Well-Being”, organized by the Department of Health (DOH) through its Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.
Lord Saver Centina, Local Youth Development Officer in Cagayan de Oro, presented the city’s work in improving local health systems through the Information Service Delivery Network (ISDN). He co-authored a paper with Pearl Joy Catingub, City Technical Lead for ZFF-TCI. Their presentation focused on engaging and empowering Kagay-anon youth.
“TCI helped us to define clearer dimensions of multisector interventions, minimizing duplication of services, unified strategic directions, and increased budget allocation,” Mr. Centina shared. He added that the Local Youth Development Office aims to bridge city-level issues by involving barangay youth leaders, particularly the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members and other youth groups. This initiative aims to improve local health systems and encourage youth participation in accessing essential health services.
Attending the forum were various dignitaries and Adolescent Health and Development representatives from across the country, including Dr. Rachel Dilla, City Health Officer and ISDN Chairperson; Dr. Aimee Grace Gemelo, Medical Officer, and Fe Sumagpao, Family Planning and Adolescent Health and Development Program Coordinator of DOH-Northern Mindanao.
The Adolescent Health Learning Exchange is a series of presentations aimed at promoting integrated actions for improving health outcomes for Filipino adolescents, especially in reducing common health issues and teen birth rates.
This event also featured a ‘motorcade’ showcasing adolescent health initiatives, sharing best practices from partners, academia, private sectors, civil society, and local governments. The goal is to raise awareness of the challenges faced by adolescents in schools, workplaces, and communities.