UNFPA leading other UN agencies in youth policies

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Director, Victoria Akyeampong, yesterday stated that her agency had made outstanding progress in achieving its goal among the youth.

Friday, February 24, 2012
UNFPA country representative, Victoria Akyeampong The New Times / Courtesy.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Director, Victoria Akyeampong, yesterday stated that her agency had made outstanding progress in achieving its goal among the youth.While addressing the 6 Programme Cycle of cooperation with the Government of Rwanda, Akyeampong noted that UNFPA has made significant progress in the areas of maternal deaths and audit, obstetric fistula care and one-stop centers for GBV sex workers programmes in Rubavu district, but remains exceptional in youth empowerment progamme."We have done very well in the area of youth. UNFPA is leading in youth effort. We are responsible for the adolescence issue of reproductive health component and we’ve been able to work with our partners in the Ministry of Health to develop a youth policy and a strategic plan that has been effective,” Akyeampong said.She noted that youth are a very important segment of the population since they comprise over 69 percent of the population, and that they would work with the Ministry of Health and other partners to develop youth-friendly centres."We’ve trained people how to receive, counsel them and making the commodities available for them to make a choice without  being afraid that they might meet relatives who might report them when they come for condoms or other contraceptives. This will be a breakthrough for the youth in this country,” she said.