NATIONAL TRAINING MANUAL ON PEER TO PEER YOUTH HEALTH EDUCATION
Act · Health
An Act provides a national training manual that equips young Nigerians as peer educators to teach health topics like sexual health and HIV prevention. It targets peer health educators, NGOs, and school coordinators. This expands health education reach among youth.
NATIONAL TRAINING MANUAL ON PEER TO PEER YOUTH HEALTH EDUCATION
What Is This Policy?
A training manual for peer educators equipping young Nigerians with knowledge and skills to educate their peers on health topics including sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention, substance abuse, and mental health.
Who Does It Target?
Young people selected as peer health educators NGOs implementing youth health education programmes School health coordinators SACAs and state health departments running youth health programmes
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Expand the reach of health education to young people by training peers who can communicate health messages effectively to their age mates in schools and communities.
Key Features
Peer Education Model: Trains young people as peer educators, leveraging peer influence for health behaviour change. Core Health Topics: Covers sexual and reproductive health, HIV/STI prevention, substance abuse, and mental health. Communication Skills: Builds interpersonal communication and facilitation skills for health education sessions. Referral: Equips peer educators to identify peers needing professional health services and facilitate referral.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active — deployed through school and community youth programmes Coverage: Nationwide youth health education Beneficiaries: Nigerian youth; peer educators Funding: Federal Ministry of Health; UNFPA; USAID
How to Access
Young people: access peer health education through school or community programmes NGOs: download the manual from FMOH and train peer educators School health coordinators: request training from state health authorities Application method: Access at https://www.health.gov.ng
Important Terms
Peer education is most effective when peer educators receive ongoing supervision and support Peer educators are not healthcare providers — they facilitate referral to professional services Regular refresher training is essential to maintain peer educator quality
Official Resources
Website: https://www.health.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Health / NPHCDA
Legal Framework
Operates under the National Health Act 2014, the Child Rights Act 2003, the National Adolescent Health and Development Policy, and the National Reproductive Health Policy. Draws on WHO guidelines on peer education for health, the UNFPA peer education manual, and the National Youth Policy framework.