By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Diabene (WR), Nov. 15, GNA – The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly under the Twin-Cities in Sustainable Partnership Project TCSPP has handed over three newly constructed Adolescent Reproductive and Counselling Centres to three communities.
The facilities were strategically positioned at places where the youth could easily receive accurate information on reproductive health, mental well-being, self-confidence and personal safety, to help prevent issues before they arose while, guiding young people towards positive and healthy paths.
Mr Isaac Aidoo, the Project Lead said the EU-Funded Centres found in Diabenekrom, Kojokrom and Essipon, would help in advancing education on Reproductive Health issues particularly among the girl child while, providing advisory services to all teenagers in the project zones to ensure that these adolescents made informed Reproductive Health choices.
Mr Abdul-Mumin Issah, the Metropolitan Chief Executive said there had been significant milestones in implementing the EU-funded Twin Cities in Sustainable Project in Sekondi-Takoradi and Palermo in Italy.
He explained that the locations were strategically selected in response to the youth-related issues such as teenage pregnancy, child prostitution, illicit use of drugs, school dropout, irregular migration and gender-based violence.
“Adolescence is a period filled with questions, challenges, and crucial decisions that shape not just individual lives but the fabric of the society requiring that, young people need safe, supportive spaces to learn, express themselves, and seek answers without fear of judgment,” Mr Issah said.
He said the centres, therefore, had been provided with a clear vision to empower the youth with the knowledge, resources, and guidance needed to make informed decisions about their health and lives.
The Centres represented the Assembly’s commitment to providing a safe place where qualified health professionals, counsellors, and mentors would listen, guide, and help young people thrive, MCE added.
Mr Issah stated that the concept of these centres was a collaborative work with the Ghana Health Service, Social Welfare Department, Ghana Education Service, Civil Society and Community-Based Organisations to mainstream the interest of vulnerable groups into the governance of the city.
He thanked the partners and prayed that the Centre would serve as a foundation for growth, health, and hope for generations to come.
Mr Francisco Champagna, the Leader of the Palermo Delegation described the project as a good investment in the future of youth.
Ms Diana Adjo Abbah, the Facility Head at Diabenekrom noted how teenage pregnancy was a major hurdle to cross in the community sometime back.
She attributed the problem to excessive nightlife, poverty and lack of control from parents and prayed that the centre would increase the gains chalked with education and awareness on reproductive health issues to empower the communities.
GNA