Joint Programme on Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy
The Philippine government has declared adolescent pregnancy as a national emergency, presenting a significant challenge in the country, particularly in Eastern Visayas, where Samar and Southern Leyte exhibit alarmingly high rates of early childbearing among girls aged 15-19.
The Joint Programme on Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy (JPARAP) is a collaborative initiative designed to address this critical issue in these two provinces. Supported by the Korean Government through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), JPARAP unites the Philippine Government, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO) in addressing the multifaceted nature of adolescent pregnancy.
Building a better tomorrow through Adolescent Reproductive Health today
1. Improving Access to Quality Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
- Capacity-building of community adolescent services
- Adolescent-friendly health services certification
- Provision of ASRH service training and mobile health facility
- Review of the PhilHealth benefit package for adolescent pregnancy
Padre Burgos Central School in Southern Leyte. ©UNFPA Philippines / Shirin Bhandari
2. Raising Self-Awareness on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Provision of standardized peer education
- Implementation and evaluation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)
3. Enhancing Governance in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Establishment of a Local Performance Accountability System (PAS), with a supporting health information system on ASRH for local government Units
- Research to understand the drivers of adolescent pregnancy and child, early forced marriage and unions (CEFMU)
- Implementation of Youth Leadership and Governance initiative.
By fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders and empowering both service providers and young people, we build a better, increased access to and utilization of adolescent-friendly health services in Southern Leyte and Samar. Together, we can create an enabling environment where adolescents in Southern Leyte and Samar can access the information, services, and support they need to delay pregnancy, protect their health and well-being, and realize their full potential.
