In emergency situations such as this COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures that accompany it, young people, whose needs are often neglected or not considered in all phases of emergency will most likely find themselves in risky situations that they are not prepared to deal with. The lack of access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, the disruption or inaccessibility of SRH services, and the increased risk of sexual abuse and exploitation (SEA) as well as high-risk sexual behaviors among adolescents during emergencies, puts adolescents and young people, especially girls, at risk of unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, STIs and HIV infection. Moreover, adolescents and youth, especially adolescent girls and young women, who already tend to face very high levels of domestic and intimate partner violence, may experience even higher levels of violence driven by quarantine and isolation.

Despite digital inequalities, this generation of young people is more connected through technology, media and the internet than any other generation. In this time of social distancing and lockdowns, many young people’s ease with technology will be vital in keeping communication channels open, informed and supportive of each other and the larger community. They can play a critical role in disseminating accurate information on COVID-19 and support information sharing on risk reduction, national preparedness and response efforts.

If you need to locate an Adolescent-Friendly Health Facility near you, you can use our HEALTH FACILITY LOCATOR. Simply input your location, then select “Adolescent-Friendly Health Facilities”  and click on the search button. The results will show the Level III Adolescent-Friendly Health Facilities within a 10 kilometer radius from your location.