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�CARIBBEAN CONGRESS ON ADOLESCENT AND YOUTH HEALTH II�KEY RESULTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF CCAYH I����Dr. Elizabeth Lloyd��Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Advisor�Condell Consulting.��

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I Will be Sharing

  • Objective

  • Methodology

  • Results

  • Lessons Learnt

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Objective

  • Oct 2019 Caribbean Adolescent and Youth Health Congress, Trinidad & Tobago

  • Call to Action & Report: “Championing our Wealth Promoting the Health and Well-being of Adolescents and Youth in the Caribbean”

  • Roadmap for Adolescent health and well-being with recommendations & implementation considerations

  • Roadmap Outcomes : How will we know we have brought Congress Actions to Life

  • Survey of Achievement of Outcomes at Regional & National Levels

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Methodology

  • Prepared list of CCAYH country & regional focal points including youth representatives to be surveyed
  • Designed Online Survey aligned to agreed CCAYH Outcomes for each Thematic Area
  • Conduct online survey (July- Oct) requesting input on progress toward Outcomes
  • Conducted follow up with respondents
  • Performed synthesis of results received
  • Prepared CCAYH Status Report

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RESULTS

  • Survey response rate 10% 50% emails/ contacts bounced.

  • Responses received from 7 respondents from
    • Guyana
    • Jamaica
    • Suriname
    • Trinidad & Tobago

    • 100% respondents reported actions in their countries aligned to the Roadmap Thematic Areas (Mental Health, Sexual & Reproductive Health, Nutrition & Climate Change)

    • Interagency Committee (PAHO, FPA & UN Agencies) implementing joint workplan implementing the CCAYH Roadmap 

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MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, VIOLENCE AND INJURIES���Notable Progress

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Is the CCAYH Road Map being implemented through coordinated inter-agency action in your country?

Not that much but it is being used by international NGOs who are implemented in the country

Our youth ambassadors are fighting for a lot but I haven’t seen any major changes in helping our teens

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Has your country improved legal and operational frameworks to improve enforcement, and protection of victims of all forms of violence and abuse, particularly most vulnerable adolescents, both males and females?

The Child Protection and Family Support Agency has improved its reporting and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard children from becoming at risk through child rights advocacy and public education; and to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of those identified as at risk from neglect, abuse, trauma, disability or any other factor.

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Has your country strengthened national systems for generating data and information to guide evidence-based decision-making on adolescent and youth health, ensuring the involvement of youth in the process?

It is being done to some extent, but information and data come mainly from research efforts.

They are currently working on the Adolescent Health strategy to identify the data and further implement it

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Is your country currently providing training to caregivers and personnel who serve children on the common signs of mental health, substance use problems, self-harm, and suicide?

Training is done by both the MOHW (Adolescent Health and Mental Health Units) consistently and highlighted during Mental Health Week. There is an annual capacity building workshop hosted by MOHW for health providers which includes these topics.

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SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS, HIV AND STIs���Quite a bit of work to be done

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Has there been a regional lobby resulting in legislation being reviewed/repealed with an aim to promote information regarding early marriage and access to family planning services.

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�Has your country been engaged in actions aimed at changing the social and cultural gender norms through media sensitization campaigns?�

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�Is your country engaged in the formulation of laws and policies to increase adolescents’ access to contraceptive information and services, including emergency contraceptives without mandatory parental and guardian authorization or notification?�

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�Does your country demonstrate the inclusion of curriculum-based sexuality education and family planning aimed at reducing unwanted pregnancies and optimizing age at first pregnancy and birth intervals?�

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NUTRITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SPORTS AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ��Some progress

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�Is your country demonstrating improved physical activity in school settings?

Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, there was a reported increase in physical activity in the school setting based on the Jamaica Moves programme.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health “Jamaica Moves” was created to help with physical activities within schools and homes

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CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT��Quite a bit of work to be done

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Have adolescents in your country been positioned at the center of climate change strategies and response actions?

“To some extent. There is an advocacy group called Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council that promotes climate change and sustainable living. A major part of their activities includes advocacy around key environmental issues.”

“Youth reps have gone to COP 2021 Glasgow, have led different initiatives and conversations regarding climate change and indigenous rights with regards to climate change”

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Is your country providing complete accessibility to climate change curriculum and educational resources in school settings?

“There is the need for more focused attention/ action in this area to gain traction”

“This is happening only incidentally through CXC curriculum”

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LESSONS LEARNT / RECOMMEMDATIONS

  • Notable progress in the areas of Mental Health & Nutrition. Targeted attention required in areas of SRH and Climate Change

  • Clear need for comprehensive database of contacts of conference participants and youth representatives across the region

  • Funded mechanism to support implementation of Congress agreements linked to programmatic actions within countries.

  • M&E system to facilitate the tracking progress at country level

  • Identify country level focal points for implementation & reporting

  • Improve overall culture of data & reporting