From 16th May to 26th May, JOICFP conducted the first counterpart training for the JICA-supported "Project for Strengthening Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) in the Republic of Nicaragua." Click here for more information about the project.

Dr. Aurora Pereira, General Director of Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Dr. Rodolfo Oquel, General Director of Planning and Development, Ministry of Health, Dr. Armando Toledo, General Director Boaco Silais (administrative region), and Dr. Josefina Lugo, General Director, Granada Silais, attended.

The course aimed to increase understanding of supportive environments that help to empower young people, and was conducted in three main parts:

• Overview of Japanese health administration and ARH policy
• Field observations
• Discussion of project strategies

In Japan, ARH is promoted under the national health plan "Healthy Parents and Children 21," and the visitors learned abut the roles and approaches of central and local government, NGOs, and community organizations to support this plan.

In field observations in Tochigi Prefecture, the course participants met with representatives of the Tochigi Society on Adolescent Health (Toshiken). This local NGO has over 180 members such as doctors, nurses, peer educators, counselors, and law enforcement officers, and it works in collaboration with the prefectural administration, delivering peer-counseling activities.

Toshiken, in collaboration with Tochigi prefectural government, manages the Clover Peer Room, an open space in a shopping center where young people can consult counselors, mainly by phone or email. The visitors were impressed by the youth-friendly approach and systematic support offered by Toshiken, and they also appreciated the training system of peer counselors jointly implemented by the prefecture and the society.

Interview with a peer counselor in the Clover Peer Room

In Kaminokawa Town, Meiji Junior High School, the participants were informed on school health policy, the role of the school nurse, and they observed the school health room. The school nurse and a school counselor briefed the visitors on the situation of Japan students, and on how they support their RH and mental health, too.

Talking to students at Meiji Junior High

The course participants found many valuable lessons to take away with them. Dr. Pereira commented, "We need to develop a training system of peer counselors and adults who support young people, and look for cooperation with interested sectors, such as universities."

Learning from Oyama City in Tochigi Prefecture
about its peer counseling activities

To create a better environment for young people, cooperation with many sectors of society in community networking is vital. Based on lessons learned from the course, the participants discussed applications to the ARH project in Nicaragua in order to strengthen its outcomes.