A Focal Person of the United Nations Population Fund UNFPA at the Central Regional Health Directorate, Mrs. Bernice Bimpeh is advocating for a continuous education on sexual reproductive health to stem teenage pregnancy amongst adolescents in the Cape Coast Metropolis.
She says equipping teenage girls with the needed information on their sexual and reproductive health in their formative age will always help them make informed choices in life.
Speaking to ATLFM NEWS at the sidelines of a day’s sensitization workshop for students of St. Monica’s Girls School in Cape Coast, she urged the Central Regional Coordinating Council to continuously hold such educational forums for girls of school age within the Metropolis.
The day’s workshop was organized by the Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC) through its Committee on Sexual Violence against Women and Girls named “Minimum Essential Package” in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The programme brought together resource persons from the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Central Regional Department of Gender, the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) and the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG).
Others also included the International Needs Ghana, Judicial Service, the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development among others, who respectively spoke and answered questions on the harmful effects of early sexual activity.
Read also: C/R: Stakeholders urged to immediately control teenage pregnancies
Mrs Bimpeh indicated that the continuous educational forums will be very helpful in assisting to curb teenage pregnancy in the region.
“We should continue to bring all the relevant stakeholders together and extend such programmes to all basic schools in the Central Region,” she added.
The Head of St. Monica’s JHS, Mrs Philomena Charlotte Forson expressed gratitude to the CRCC and its partners for engaging the school girls on teenage pregnancy and pledged that together with her staff, they will continue to play their role in sensitizing the girls on the negative impacts teenage pregnancy can have on their lives as well as their future.
“As teachers we will continue to educate these girls on the moral issues affecting our society and teach them how they can protect themselves against teenage pregnancy.”
Source: Rosemond Asmah/ATLFMNEWS
