Bafatá, 20 June 2022 - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Association of Women for Alternatives and Responses (AMAR-GB) are organizing from 20th to 21st of June 2022, in Bafatá, eastern province of Guinea Bissau, the Regional Conference on Youth Health as part of the implementation of the project Improving Youth Health to Harness the Demographic Dividend (YE4DD.
The meeting aims to promote and develop awareness campaigns with political leaders, youth leaders and entrepreneurs to highlight the importance of health and its relation to economic development. The topics addressed include the challenges of approaching young people to health services (cultural, social and legal barriers) and the relationship between health and the economy.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Ana Paula da Silva, Administrator of the Bafatá sector representing the Governor of the Region, surrounded by UNFPA´s Assistant Representative, Edmundo Vaz, Member of Parliament of the Region, Matilde Indequi, a member of the traditional power of the Region, Mussa Sidibe, and the Executive Secretary of AMAR-GB, Adama Baldé.
“I heartily thank UNFPA for this brilliant initiative which will certainly be beneficial for the young people of the Bafatá region and the whole country" Ana Paula da Silva, Administrator of the Bafatá sector.
According to Edmundo Vaz, Assistant Representative of UNFPA, "it is imperative to explore new and innovative avenues for sustainable development through effective participation and empowerment of youth and women in policy making, decision making and consequently in the socio-economic transformation of Guinea-Bissau". He continued by saying that "raising awareness about improving the health of young people and women can help achieve this goal”.
In her address, the Member of Parliament for the Region, Matilde Indequi emphasised the importance of the participation of young people in the conference "I would like to highlight the importance of young people participating in this conference as it has an important role in replicating the learnings and exchange of experience in their communities".
Around 25 young leaders, students, entrepreneurs and policy makers from the Bafatá region are participating in the conference.
This activity is part of the project Improving Youth Health for the Harnessing of the Demographic Dividend, funded by the Italian Government, and is the first of 3 conference cycles that will be held in 3 regions, Bafatá, Gabú and the Autonomous Sector of Bissau, which will then be followed by a national conference, that will take place in Bissau, to present the main results of the regional conferences.
