FAMILY MATTER! PROGRAM EMPOWERS PARENTS, LEADERS ON ADOLESCENT CARE

Imam Dauda Tanmola is an Islamic clerk who supervises five mosques in Mushin, Lagos with each having over 100 worshipers. He has a set of twins who are aged 11years and who are currently enrolled on CIHP’s OVC program. Prior to his participation in the FMP program, he says that discussing issues of sexuality and adolescents’ social behaviors “were not his thing”.

His knowledge on child sexual abuse, parent-child communication, parenting skills and child supervision was also very poor.

Upon enrollment to participate in FMP in March 2022, he attended all sessions and eagerly soaked in knowledge shared under topics such as; parents and caregiver’s role in educating their children about sexuality; skills in discussing sex and sexuality; pressures children face and understanding child sexual abuse.

In his words, “the knowledge I gained has also changed my way of preaching and has given me the confidence to deliver messages on sex and sexuality.”

As a member of the Islamic Society of Nigeria and a leading scholar in Arabic Studies, his sermons have changed and now includes subjects on sexuality targeting adolescents who come to the mosque to pray.  Many young people now call him to seek counselling on sex related issues.

“I can now see improved attendance of youths in the mosques from 40 to almost 100 per prayer session,” he says

Center for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP) implements the Families Matter! Program (FMP) in 7 LGAs in Lagos, Nigeria. More than 9000 (exact figure is 9600) parents and caregivers of 9-12-year old are benefiting from CIHP weekly group sessions which facilitate effective parent-child communication about sexuality and sexual risk reduction.

Other topics discussed during sessions include, risk for child sexual abuse, gender-based violence as well as values and expectations about sexual behavior. The sessions also equip parents to communicate prevention messages with their adolescents and increase awareness about HIV/Sexually Transmitted Diseases alongside harmful gender norms that may lead to violence. Here are some stories of the project’s impact to adolescents and their caregivers:

Early adolescence phase is very vital in every child, they begin to deal with the bodily, emotional and social changes that happen in their bodies and among their peers. It is important that parents have the right information about sex and sexuality, foster healthy relationships with their children and provide them the information and emotional support they need to manage puberty and make healthy choices. CIHP developed the Family Matters Initiative to arm parents appropriately.

The Centre for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP) is a multi-funded indigenous not-for-profit, non-governmental organization established in 2010 to promote better health outcomes for all Nigerians through sustainable partnerships and locally adapted, rigorously tested approaches by applying our collective learnings and experiences. .

CIHP - Centre for Integrated Health Programs: is a leading indigenous not-for-profit non-governmental organization, promoting better health outcomes for all Nigerians through the creation of sustainable systems and partnerships by applying our collective learnings and experiences.

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