Project on Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights

The Centre for Women's Health and Information (CEWHIN) came into being in the year 2002 as a step forward in the process of institutionalising the outcome of the project titled Empowerment of Young Persons in Non-Formal Sector: The Case of Female Adolescent Domestic Workers in Municipal Lagos, being a project executed under the Fund for Leadership Development (FLD) of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

The outcome of this project informed the commencement of a reproductive health information awareness programme on radio for a period of 13 weeks.

In view of the poor state of young girls reproductive health coupled with the current challenge posed to the Nigerian society by HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Centre sought the support of MAMACASH Fund for Women of the Netherlands to continue its radio programme on improving young girl's access to reproductive health information and other HIV transmission prevention measures.

The group of girls targeted by this project (young out-of-school girls such as domestic workers) are seldom catered for in major health programs institutionalised for addressing young people's health information and service needs.

The Centre produced and aired on radio, talks and drama on various reproductive health issues such as HIV/AIDS. The programme was produced in Yoruba and Pidgin English. The Centre engaged the services of field officers to monitor the participation of young out of school girls in the Programme.

The Centre also provides counselling services to young girls as well as provides educational scholarships and training opportunities for those found to be serious about their future, but lack the financial means to pursue their desire.

We produced flyers and comics towards raising awareness on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other issues related to the health and well-being of out-of-school youth in Lagos State .