On the occasion of the World Population Day, the Government of Moldova in partnership with youth organizations and UN Agencies – UNFPA, UNICEF and UNDP launched a national campaign to raise awareness about risky behaviors and to promote healthy lifestyles among young people in Moldova. The campaign “Investing in Youth Health” will end on August 12, when it is marked the International Youth Day, IPN reports.
According to a press release of the UNFPA, within the campaign the 37 Youth-Friendly Health Centers will provide information and services to young people on reproductive health and safe behaviors, making the voice of young people heard through blogs, debates and press clubs, flash mobs and photo exhibitions.
Young people represent a quarter of Moldova’s population. Key challenges faced by young people in Moldova include early and unsafe sexual practices, increasing HIV rates, abuse of tobacco, alcohol and drugs and lack of communication with their parents.
UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova Nicola Harrington-Buhay said the UN very much welcomes all efforts to ensure youth is a priority of the national and local development strategies.
“Access to youth friendly health services for everyone, including the most vulnerable young people, is crucial for a healthy young generation”, said Valeria Borta, representative of Y-PEER Moldova, a UNFPA-supported youth-to-youth organization who called for more investments in youth health.
According to a recent survey by UNICEF and Ministry of Health, only one third of young people is well informed about the main ways of HIV prevention and 7.6% of adolescent girls of 15-19 years have already had a birth or are pregnant with their first child. More so, every second boy and every fifth girl started to drink alcohol before the age of 15.
