The engagement was also meant to strengthen access to quality comprehensive health education in The Gambia. The forum was held at the National Assembly Hall in Banjul.
The overall aim of the implementation research project is to strengthen access to quality comprehensive health education for in and out of school adolescents in The Gambia and the implementation of the school based and community based interventions. The project is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
Phibian Ina Grant Sagnia, principal investigator in her remarks said while there are policy frameworks regarding comprehensive health education, there is limited evidence of implementation in The Gambia.
She added that very little is also known about efforts related to comprehensive health education coordination across various partners.
She explained that the expected outcomes of the study will be the identification of challenges to implement comprehensive health education and institutionalise relevant school and community-based programs that can be used to strengthen access to quality comprehensive health education, information and services for both in and out of school adolescents.
“The study is also expected to result into more effective and efficient coordination of comprehensive health education,” Ina said.
Amadou Camara, Chairman of the National Assembly Select Committee on Health, Women, Children, Refugees, Disasters and Humanitarian Relief expressed delight in working with Ina.
According to him, everything that was presented to them was based on facts. He thanked the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for coming up with the project to help educate young girls and boys about their sexuality.
