NIGERIA. Lagos, Shomolu. Palm Groove. 04 December 2022. Kehinde Odususi (19) trying to get her daughter to sleep.

Kehinde got pregnant in 2020 after being sexually abused while she was away from home. She is a beneficiary of the Young Mom's Clinic (YMC) program funded by the UNFPA which provides free ante-natal care services, free baby care items, psychological support and family planning counselling for teenage mothers.

When her daughter was born, she was diagnosed jaundice and was under photo-therapy for 5 days. "Now to my first fruit, my daughter. Ever since I have given birth to her, she has been my strength in all I do. Whenever I feel down, her smile will always brighten up my day." Kedinde received emotional support from coordinators from the YMC. As she didn't have health insurance, her hospital bills were covered by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA).

Nigerian population is expected to double in the next two decades. Maternal mortality rate dropped in the last years but natality rate remains high (2020: 5,2 children/women, World Bank), especially teenage pregnancy.