FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
CONTACT:
|
Bill
Barker |
|
December 7, 1999 |
|
(202)
419-3420 |
Advocates for
Youth Honored for Critical Contribution in International
Reproductive Health
Interview Opportunities Available Immediately
With International Adolescent Experts
WASHINGTON, DC (December 7, 1999) Advocates for Youth received the 10th
Year Anniversary Merit Award for outstanding international
contribution to the reproductive and family health effort in Nigeria.
The Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) honored Advocates
for Youth with this award late last week at its 10th Anniversary Celebration
in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
James Wagoner, President of Advocates for Youth, expressed gratitude
to ARFH for its recognition of Advocates' efforts, but cautioned that
the fight is far from over. "With five young people worldwide contracting
HIV/AIDS every minute of every day, and one young person per minute in Nigeria alone,
it is critical that young people get balanced, realistic, life-saving
sexuality education," said Wagoner.
"Ignorance is nobody's ally in the era of AIDS. Denying young people
the information they need to protect their health and their lives is
not only unrealistic and naïve, but irresponsible and dangerous," concluded
Wagoner.
Advocates for Youth collaborated with ARFH on the West African Youth
Initiative (WAYI) to make reproductive health information and services,
including contraceptives, more accessible to adolescents in Nigeria and
Ghana through peer education and capacity building of youth-serving organizations.
As a result of Advocates' efforts, there was a significant increase in
knowledge about reproductive health, modern contraceptive use, and self-efficacy
among adolescents (particularly among in-school males) in these countries.
"With the vast majority of adolescents worldwide becoming sexually
active before the age of 20, with 15 million teen births each year, and
half of all new HIV infections worldwide occurring in young people under
the age of 25, we need realistic policies and actions that protect young
people's health and lives," said Wagoner.
Advocates for Youth is an international, nonprofit organization that
creates programs and supports policies that help young people make safe,
responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
###
Note to Editors
and Producers: For more information or to set up an interview
with adolescent sexuality experts, please contact Bill Barker at
(202) 419-3420.
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