Baz¨ga: Sixteen youth organizations from Baz¨ga province, forming an advocacy group, met on June 12 with the chief medical officer of the Kombissiri health district. The objective of this meeting was to advocate for the relocation and equipment of the province's youth listening center.
According to Burkina Information Agency, young people in Baz¨ga province, like those in other parts of Burkina Faso, constantly face numerous challenges, particularly regarding sexual and reproductive health. In response, they decided to approach the health authorities in Kombissiri to ensure their concerns were addressed through advocacy.
This initiative is part of the implementation of the YEWA (Youth Empowerment in West Africa) program, led by the NGO Plan International and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Song-Taaba Association of Women of Burkina Faso (ASTFB). The goal is to enable adolescents and young people to grow up safely, to influence decision-making in resilient communities that respect their rights and offer equal opportunities to all, regardless of their gender.
Coming from sixteen youth organizations in Baz¨ga, the members of the group met, at the Medical Center with Surgical Unit (CMA) in Kombissiri, the chief physician of the health district (MCD), Dr. Luc Minoungou, to present their plea for the relocation and equipment of the youth listening center in the province.
According to Zakaria Kiendreb©ogo, president of the advocacy group, the only youth counseling center in the province, located within the Kombissiri Urban Medical Center (CMU), no longer meets the expectations of young people, for various reasons.
In his speech, Mr. Kiendreb©ogo asked the MCD to take into account several grievances, including: making arrangements to support young people in matters of reproductive health, relocating the listening center to a more appropriate site, equipping it, and setting up a health team dedicated to running the center and raising awareness.
For his part, Dr. Minoungou, while welcoming the youth initiative, stated that he had taken note of their concerns. He promised, for his part, to work on finding staff to support the activities of the listening center. Regarding other aspects, he directed the youth to other partners who could assist them in implementing the points raised.