Marie Ba, director of the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit, joins health workers and officials during a visit to the SSSU-SAJ Centre in Marcory, Côte d’Ivoire. Photo Credit: Science & Society / ECC.

NNA News - Côte d’Ivoire has been recognised for progress in reproductive health and family planning as the Ouagadougou Partnership reviews efforts to expand access to services for adolescents, young people and the wider population. The report is compiled by Science & Society.

The recognition came during a visit to Côte d’Ivoire by Marie Ba, director of the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit (UCPO), as the partnership marks its 15th anniversary. Ba visited the School and University Health Service Centre for Adolescent and Youth Health (SSSU-SAJ) in Marcory on Thursday to assess progress in reproductive health and family planning, identify persistent challenges and discuss priorities for the coming years.

The visit also provided an opportunity to examine efforts to support adolescents and young people and assess Côte d'Ivoire's progress in improving access to reproductive health services. Ba said Côte d'Ivoire occupies an important position among the nine member countries of the Ouagadougou Partnership and has become one of the driving forces of the regional initiative. “Ivory Coast has recorded very significant results and is among the leaders of the Ouagadougou Partnership in terms of indicators,” Ba said.

She also stressed the need to increase the number of centres dedicated to adolescents and young people, particularly to reach both school-aged and non-school-aged populations. Ba welcomed the decision by Ivorian authorities to introduce free healthcare services for young people in 2019 before extending them to the entire population. She described the measure as a courageous step towards more equitable access to healthcare and said it could have further positive effects in the years ahead.

Health officials brief Marie Ba and members of the visiting delegation during a tour of the SSSU-SAJ Centre in Marcory. Photo Credit: Science & Society / ECC

The UCPO director also highlighted the role of the media in raising public awareness, disseminating information and strengthening accountability. She said improved communication about family planning remains crucial to empowering women, couples and young people to make informed choices. For Dr. Fatoumata Touré, coordinating director of the National Maternal and Child Health Programme (PNSME), the choice of Côte d'Ivoire for the visit reflects a mark of confidence in the country's progress.

Touré reaffirmed Côte d'Ivoire's commitment to continuing its efforts to achieve the objectives set for 2030. At the SSSU-SAJ Centre in Marcory, chief physician Dr. Assi Constantin said the prevention of pregnancies in schools and family planning are among the facility's main priorities. The visit comes as the Ouagadougou Partnership marks 15 years of regional cooperation on reproductive health and family planning.

Established in 2011, the partnership brings together Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo. The partnership has developed into a major platform for cooperation on reproductive health in Francophone West Africa, with member countries working to expand access to family planning and reproductive health services.

Marie Ba, director of the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit, speaks during a meeting at the SSSU-SAJ Centre in Marcory. Photo Credit: Science & Society / ECC

Côte d'Ivoire's progress comes as the partnership looks towards its 2030 objectives, with particular attention to improving services for women, adolescents and young people and addressing persistent gaps in access and information.