In times of crisis, women and girls are often overlooked. During this pandemic, a steep rise in unplanned pregnancies & reproductive health concerns for millions of girls globally is anticipated. UN SDSN Youth will provide accessible and readily available health services, through direct and contextualized provision of nutrition packs and family planning tools, as well as educational materials. This will serve 100 young mothers each in five regions of the Philippines, ranging from ages 15 to 25.
In the Philippines, 576 babies are born to teenage mothers every day. This poses strong social, economic, and health risks to the country's predominantly young population, as there are still no legislative safety nets in place for young mothers. Unfortunately, the current pandemic is also a breeding ground for unwanted pregnancies and other reproductive health concerns for women. UN SDSN Youth will provide much-needed support for 500 young women, through provision of health services.
UN SDSN Youth will be providing nutrition packs, containing healthy food, supplements, and milk products, to support the health of both mother and baby. At the same time, reproductive health services, such as family planning tools and consultations with health workers, will be made accessible to the women. To address sustainability, the project will also cover health education, through seminars and educational materials, including sustainable indigenous practices that can be used as well.
The project will support the overall health of 500 young mothers throughout the Philippines, allowing them to protect themselves, their babies, and their larger communities. This is especially critical during crisis situations, such as the current pandemic. Introduction of health education to the program will also ensure that the participants can carry on these practices, and potentially pass on accessible knowledge to their fellow women in the localities they come from.
