"The Ministry of Health has committed to a secure and sound environment for adolescents to grow to be adults with value and virtue," said Margarita Gurdian, Minister of Health, at the inauguration ceremony of the JICA Project for Strengthening Adolescent Reproductive Health in Nicaragua, held on 30 June 2006. "The leaders of Boaco and Granada, which have been selected as project pilot areas should gather the best coordination efforts to achieve the project goals, and show the example to other areas of the country", she continued.

The inauguration ceremony for the project was attended by all parties concerned, including Mitsuhiro Kagami, Ambassador of Japan, Akihiko Yamada, Resident Representative of JICA Nicaragua, Sumie Ishii, Executive Director, JOICFP, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nicaragua, UNICEF, UNFPA, and about 200 adolescents from the two pilot areas, as well as nearly 100 guests from relevant agencies and government offices.

Minister of Health, Nicaragua, Margarita Gurdian Lopez

Ambassador Kagami told the audience that education for adolescents would guarantee them becoming more responsible and having a better life style. "The project will contribute to meeting the challenges of the MDGs, i.e. to reduce maternal mortality, lower poverty levels, etc. In implementing the project, the Nicaraguan and Japanese experts are expected to work closely, and I give all my support to the project."

Mitsuhiro Kagami, Ambassador of Japan

The inauguration program included adolescents' demonstration of an HIV/AIDS control song with rap music and cultural dancing. Adolescents also organized tents to introduce the participants to their youth activities for RH education with the topics of family planning, prevention of HIV/AIDS, and pregnancy care.

Some of the materials produced by adolescents
to promote adolescent reproductive health

UNICEF provided some financial support to the Ministry of Health in organizing the inauguration, which was highly appreciated.

Adolescents put on a folk dance