From October 12th to 18th, ULS Santa Maria celebrated International Adolescent Health Week under the theme “Nothing About Us Without Us”. The initiative aimed to involve adolescents as partners in shaping healthcare responses relevant to them, promoting participation, equity, and continuity of care.
Activities took place across various services, including the Pediatrics Department, Inpatient Services, Pediatric Outpatient Clinic, Adult Services, Primary Healthcare, and community institutions. The goal was to emphasize that Adolescent Health is a shared responsibility of the entire ULS, not solely the domain of Pediatrics.
Throughout the week, adolescents were given prominence, with a focus on prevention, health literacy, and self-care autonomy. The Mobile Unit of the Cuida-te Program, from the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ), was also present, serving as a key moment to put these objectives into practice.
The organizers stressed that listening is not enough; meaningful participation requires adolescents to voice their needs and priorities, be taken seriously in decisions affecting their health, and contribute to the development and evaluation of services. Access to clear, age-appropriate information and the gradual exercise of autonomy were also highlighted.
Equity was another core principle, ensuring that all adolescents, regardless of their background, can participate and be heard. Healthcare professionals were encouraged to foster partnership relationships by listening without judgment, involving adolescents in decisions, explaining options accessibly, and ensuring privacy and confidentiality.
At the closing session, the importance of strengthening communication and coordination between Pediatrics and Adult Services teams was emphasized, advocating for structured transition pathways and clinics to ensure continuity of care. Promoting Adolescent Health was seen as preparing for a supported and integrated transition to adult healthcare.
Present at the closing were Ana Gaspar, representing the Clinical Director for Primary Healthcare, and Nurse Zélia Cristo Soares, representing the Director of Nursing, who congratulated the initiative.
