International youth day 2020

    By Omogoroye olumide

Happy International Youth Day 2020

The United Nations' (UN) international youth day is celebrated on August 12 year to recognize efforts of the world's youth in enhancing global society. It also aims to promote ways to engage them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities. As an initiative, we join youths all over the globe to celebrate this day. We celebrate youths making impacts in various spheres of life!

As an initiative concerned with promotion of healthy living in the society, we want to encourage all youths to embrace healthy lifestyles and to also actively promote such in their various communities. Health is a major sector of the global society, hence, the need for youths to put in efforts to enhance it.
Though a common target for health-improving efforts, youths are not often regarded as agents of change for healthier communities.

However, a growing number of successful health-supportive policy, environment, and systems-change efforts trace their impetus to youth involvement. Not only are youth proving to be catalysts and prolific communicators in social movements, but their involvement signals a potential for career choices and civic stewardship that portends improving population health and equity in the years to come.

Building up the capacity of youth to be able to make their own decisions on health and to take responsibility for health is also very important.  The need for active participation of youths in promotion of healthy living cannot be overemphasized at this time when the world is faced with the challenge of covid-19. In this context, health education, public health promotion, and evidence-based information are critical in combating the spread and effects of COVID-19, especially to challenge the spread of disinformation online.

The role of governments as well as youth organizations and community groups will be essential to ensure that trustworthy public health information is disseminated. Youths should use online technologies to spread public health information in engaging ways such as videos on various health issues and how to prevent them.

Around the world, a number of initiatives are being developed to leverage young people’s efforts to promote healthy living in the society. Health4All initiative is one of such initiative in Nigeria. Youths are encouraged to join these initiatives and movements present in their community. They should also actively participate in the activities of the initiatives.

Whilst most of these initiatives are on a voluntary basis, some also take the shape of social enterprises. Youths can also build startups that provide solutions to health issues in the society. Many youth-driven technology innovation hubs should support startups to develop effective solutions to address health issues in the society. Once again we celebrate youths making impacts in their community.

Happy international youth day!