Yemi Obafemi
The Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) and the Media, Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to advance Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for young people across the country.
The partnership brings together the medical expertise of APHPN, and the media and youth reach of MHR to tackle pressing public health issues, including unsafe abortion causing maternal mortality, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), adolescent reproductive health, and the spread of health misinformation, disinformation, and malformation affecting women, children, and marginalised persons in Nigeria.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, APHPN President, Dr. Terfa Kene, described the MoA as a natural alignment of values and vision.
“This partnership is fully in line with the mission and vision of APHPN, which is to develop and sustain excellence in public health physicians at all levels, contributing to the attainment of better health, equity, and well-being of all Nigerians,” he said.
MHR Executive Director, Alu Azege, said the organisation is focused on reaching vulnerable groups.
“MHR aims to empower young people, especially women, girls, and other vulnerable groups, with comprehensive information and psychosocial support that enables them to claim their rights and make informed choices,” she said.
At the centre of the collaboration is Love Matters Naija, MHR’s demand-generating platform for youth SRHR issues, which has over 800,000 community members.
The platform also features padiChat, a first-level psychosocial support AI chatbot, through which the partnership’s resources and expertise will be provided to young Nigerians seeking health information and support.
The organisations said the partnership is expected to expand advocacy, education, and community engagement, with the aim of ensuring that accurate, evidence-based health information reaches young people.
Nigeria faces ongoing challenges in adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health, with misinformation and cultural taboos contributing to poor health outcomes, unmet need for contraception, and underreporting of gender-based violence.
The MoA is intended to bridge the gap between clinical public health expertise and community-level communications by combining the diagnostic and policy strength of APHPN with the storytelling and digital reach of MHR.
“This partnership signals a renewed commitment to factual and evidence base education, advocacy, education, and action, ensuring that no voice is unheard and no life is left behind,” Azege added.
