Abidjan (AIP) – The Director of International Affairs of the Federation of CEGEPs, a network of 48 higher education institutions in Quebec in Canada, Francis Brown, and the Director of the National Institute for the Training of Health Workers (INFAS), Pr N’ dathz Méliane wife Sanogo has signed a partnership to improve the sexual and reproductive health of young people.

This agreement, signed on Thursday 8 June 2023 at the premises of INFAS, is part of the implementation of the Services Support Project

gender equitable health programs (PASSAGE) in Ivory Coast.

According to the person responsible for collaboration within the health institute, Dr. N’Dri Alexis, this national project between Canada and the Ivorian State will be partially implemented in Upper Sassandra, precisely in Daloa, and will allow everything that is done there to improve aspects of sexual and reproductive health of young people.

“You know, when we talk about sexuality at home, it’s really taboo. Health issues are rarely, if ever, discussed with young people. This has consequences that need to be corrected by other forms of communication,” explained Dr. N’dri, who is also deputy director of the INFAS branch in Daloa.

For him, this partnership will also facilitate capacity building for health professionals graduating from INFAS and working locally in the field of young people’s sexual and reproductive health.

This allows Canada to provide INFAS with equipment and other materials to support the training system.

Canada intends to provide student internships and teaching materials to INFAS training schools.

CEGEP Association Director of International Affairs, Francis Brown, reiterated the commitment of several Canadian partners to the implementation of this project, notably Laval University, the network of schools for the promotion of health, international education and a variety of civil society organizations in the region , which will join the train for access and quality of health services.

He argued that the purpose of this agreement was to allow better access and delivery of health services, especially for young adolescents.

He argues that this partnership will improve the performance of health workers to better support adolescents in the context of reproductive health.

We note that the official launch of the PASSAGE project took place on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at the Daloa Prefecture Conference Room.

(AIP)

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