By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Bolgatanga, Dec 13, GNA – The government has been urged to invest strategically in sexual and reproductive health and services to address challenges facing the growth and development of adolescents and young people in Ghana.
Adolescents in the Upper East Region who made the call, stressed that investing in the needed sexual and reproductive health facilities and services would empower young people particularly women and girls and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“For Ghana to achieve the SDGs three and five which put emphasis on good health and wellbeing, and gender equality, the future generations should be empowered to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and be supported to lead advocacy for it,” they said.
The adolescents made the call in a communique presented to the government through Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper East Regional Minister, as part of activities marking this year’s Adolescent Health Week and the 16 Days of Activism Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) under the theme, “Thriving! not just surviving, building adolescents’ resilience”.
The students are from the Kassena-Nankana and Builsa North Municipalities, and the Bongo and Kassena-Nankana West Districts, the beneficiary areas of the five-year Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project.
The presentation was done after a float within the principal streets of Bolgatanga with the adolescents, mostly students holding placards with the inscriptions “discuss consent before”, “pressuring another for sex is a sign of an unhealthy relationship”, “if you feel pressured to have sex against your, report”, “challenge the culture of silence around violence as it worsens the case” among others.
Ms Mavis Akaditi, SHARE Project Health Club Member, Bongo Senior High School, presenting the communique on behalf of her colleagues, said despite the efforts in the past, there were still challenges such as teenage pregnancies, child marriage and violence against young people particularly girls and called for intensified efforts to curb the situation.
“Lack of resources such as sanitary pads for adolescent girls at the pre-tertiary educational institutions to support their basic health needs during menstruation leading to school absenteeism, discomfort, low confidence, and dignity.
“This often pushes young girls into exploitative and transactional sexual relationships with older men to meet these basic health needs,” she said.
She therefore urged the governments and development partners to increase investments in adolescent sexual and reproductive health programs including mentorships and ensure that funding was equitable and reached the marginalised groups.
“The District Assemblies should endeavour to ensure that all school building constructions will include a girl’s changing room with shelves stocked with personal hygiene materials and sanitary pads for adolescent girls,” she added.
She called for stronger partnerships among government and development partners as well as traditional authorities to modernise or abolish dehumanising sociocultural practices and create safe space for adolescents especially girls and young women.
“The health and well-being of adolescents are foundational to achieving broader global health and development goals. By prioritizing adolescent sexual and reproductive health, we not only improve the lives of young people today but also create a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous future for all,” she added.
Mr John Muniru and Ms Yvonne Wonchua, Assistant Directors at the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, who received the communique on behalf of the Regional Minister, assured the adolescents that their concerns would be forwarded for action.
The SHARE project is a five-year intervention being implemented by a consortium led by Right to Play in partnership with the Forum for African Educationalists Ghana, WaterAid Ghana and FHI360 and funded by the Global Affairs Canada.
The project aims to advance gender equality by providing access to age-appropriate sexual and reproductive education and gender responsive care for young people especially girls and young women.
It directly benefits teachers and learners across 200 schools, care workers, and health volunteers in 87 healthcare facilities.
GNA