By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Abor (VR), Dec 19, GNA-Royal Clinic, a private health centre at Abor in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, has organised free health screening and education session for adolescent girls in the municipality.
The exercise also focused on teenage pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted diseases among adolescent girls within the ages of 13 to 19 years.
Madam Joyce Akpakli, the Principal Nursing Officer at Royal Clinic, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, stated that students of Abor Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) basic school have participated in the education programme with a total of 31 girls have been screened on hepatitis B, urine, and HIV.
“We screened the girls for various health conditions, with seven diagnosed with urine issues which we guided them for further treatment. They also received free medication and are to visit Royal Clinic for free medical check-ups,” she said.
She explained that the girls were educated on the causes of teenage pregnancy which were peer pressure and influence from friends or partners, lack of parental guidance or supervision, poverty and economic vulnerability leading to exploitation, limited access to sex education and contraceptives and early marriage or cultural practices which lead to teenage marriage and pregnancy.
She mentioned the effects of teenage pregnancy such as higher risks of pregnancy complications, anemia, death, school dropout or interrupted education, financial struggles which could impact their future opportunities, social isolation, shame, or stigma and emotional stress, anxiety, depression due to pregnancy and parenthood.
“To prevent this challenges, we are providing accurate and age-appropriate information about reproductive health and contraception and to ensure availability and accessibility of condoms, pills, and other contraceptive methods.”
Madam Akpakli used the opportunity and encouraged parents to open their communication gaps with young children about relationships and reproductive health to foster self-confidence and goal-setting skills to help teenagers make informed decisions as well as teach them about consent, boundaries, and healthy partnerships.
She said the best and the most recommended method to curb or prevent pregnancy among young girls was to avoid premature sex or total abstinence from sex and focus on their books.
She said that nurses from the clinic have been visiting communities within the municipality to provide the necessary health education and screenings including free screenings for hepatitis B, high blood pressure, diabetes, Anaemia, HIV and others.
Madam Akpakli appealed for support from philanthropists, corporate organisations, individuals, the government among others to help Royal Clinic to achieve its goals of reaching more communities and educating the public on proper healthcare activities.
She said that the other objective of the clinic was to provide health services and education, especially to vulnerable groups like adolescent girls and those in deprived communities to prevent any unfortunate circumstances which could affect the future of victims.
Some students and teachers GNA engaged after the exercise experience joy over the event and thanked the leadership of the Royal Clinic for the kind initiative that demonstrated their total commitment to community health and empowerment.
They said the event was well-received with much appreciation for the free services and education provided and pledged to adhere to the advises for their own benefit.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade