TO ADDRESS the many threats in the health and well-being of the youth, Baguio City recently formed a council that will implement the Adolescent and Youth Health Program.
The Adolescent and Youth Health Development Council was launched on July 22, simultaneous with the induction of its members pursuant to Baguio City Administrative Order 59, which designates a council tasked to keep an eye on the youth.
The council is composed of government and non-government organizations dedicated in empowering youth and uplifting their welfare.
Members of the council are the city's Committee on Social Services, Women and Urban Poor; Center for Health and Development; Commission on Population; Department of Education (Baguio City Division); National Youth Council; and the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Likewise, Baguio City Police Office; Baguio General Hospital; Baguio City National High School; Pines City National High School and the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children are also members of the council.
In addition, non-government organizations such as Baguio Center for Young Adults, Inc.; Family Planning Organization in the Philippines; Crossroads; Philippine Ob-Gyne Society; Luzon Health; and FPOP Youth Core Group enjoined the government organizations in the council.
The AYHDC is chaired by city mayor Mauricio Domogan himself.
The council is directed to implement the AYHP which aims to achieve healthy development; healthy nutrition; sexual and reproductive health; reduction of substance use; reduction of injuries and mortality, morbidity and psychological consequences of injuries; reduction of all forms of violence and its psychological consequences; and mental health, among youth.
The members of the council will also formulate policies and programs such as peer counseling, sex education and information dissemination on youth to enhance their awareness, knowledge, skills and attitude relative to health and development.
It is also tasked to have close coordination with other agencies concerned to continuously identify the needs, concerns, issues and problems of the youth and to be able to make appropriate and helpful responses and actions.
One of the problems in the youth which needs to be focused on as identified by the council is the prevailing teenage pregnancy.
The council is expected to intensify each agency's efforts to address the issue in promoting health, personal and social responsibility of the youth.
According to the Local Registry Office, some 1,250 deliveries were recorded among 19 years old and below in 2012 with 1,158 deliveries of that age bracket in 2013.
Fifty-nine percent of the 2013 data are Baguio residents and the remaining are transients.
Of the 345,400 population of the Summer Capital, 102,000 belong to the 10-24 age bracket.