By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey
Accra, Dec. 24 GNA-The Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), has trained 70 adolescent girls on preventing and responding to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH).
The girls drawn from three regions, Ashanti, Greater Accra and the Eastern, are expected to engage other girls from the ages of 15 to 24 and empower them on their Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.
They are expected to serve as a linkage between their peers and health workers by referring cases of SEAH to health workers for assessment and providing education on HIV and AIDS to help curb the spread of the disease.
Madam Cecilia Lodonu-Senoo Executive Director of Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), said the training programme was part of the Global Funds Grant Cycle 7 (GC7) Project, which calls for the implementation of critical interventions needed to achieve global targets on HIV, TB and Malaria.
She said the three-year programme is being supported by the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service ( GHS), the National AIDS Control Programme and the Country Coordinating Mechanism with a funding of one million US dollars from the global fund.
“This programme will contribute to the realization of HIV and AIDS prevention targets by protecting young adults who are most vulnerable from SEAH, which could lead to contracting AIDs,” she said.
Madam Senoo said the peer educators being trained comprise Persons Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHIV) who would also be doing a lot of education on HIV prevention and positive living for those living with HIV.
“They will be working with parents and their caregivers, by referring clients to health facility for HIV testing. They will engage the youth in the communities and schools on SEAH, providing counselling on HIV and link communities to health workers for HIV testing,” she said.
She said district directors of the GHS were also part of the training while adolescent boys would also be trained on SEAH subsequently.
“Most girls become vulnerable to men as they depend on them for needs, these men abuse them sexually, exposing them to HIV. This is why we want these girls to be empowered to take very positive decisions for themselves, set their own objective and achieve their dreams,” she said.
She urged young girls to take care of themselves and protect themselves from HIV during the Christmas festivities.
Madam Senoo urged the young girls to stay with their families during this festive season, saying, “ do not go about drinking, having sex all over the place, because at the end of this you may contract HIV or get pregnant ,” she said.
GNA