By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, Aug. 12, GNA – Selected health professionals in the Eastern Region have undergone a three-day training on adolescent sexual and reproductive health under the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-Government of Ghana Eighth Country Programme.
The workshop, held in Koforidua, formed part of the implementation of approved third-quarter activities under the programme.
It brought together nurses from beneficiary districts of the programme and professionals involved in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services.
The beneficiary districts are Akyemansa, Kwahu West, Ayensuano, New Juaben North, Akwapim South, Yilo Krobo, and Upper Manya Krobo.
The Eighth Country Programme between the Government of Ghana and the UNFPA Ghana (2023-2027) aims to achieve three transformative results.
This includes zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices, while empowering adolescents and youth across priority regions.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr Michael Agyeman, Eastern Regional Programme Focal Person, said the Adolescent Girls Programme (AGP) was one of the sub-components of the UNFPA-GOG Eighth Country Programme under which the training was organised.
He said the AGP was sponsored by the Canadian government.
Mr Agyeman, who is also the Eastern Regional Development Planning Officer, said the training sought to enhance participants’ knowledge and understanding of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, build their capacity to promote healthy relationships and informed decision-making, and advance gender equality and empowerment.
He said the programme was also intended to contribute to reducing teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV/AIDS, while fostering a supportive environment for adolescent growth and development.
On her part, Mrs Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, Eastern Regional Minister, acknowledged the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organisation, United States Agency for International Development, and civil society organisations for their continued support towards adolescent health in the region.
She said adolescents were central to the development agenda, describing them as the energy, talent, and future of the region.
“Yet many still face challenges such as teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, harmful gender norms and various forms of sexual and gender-based violence,” she said.
Mrs Awatey noted that beyond the physical effects of such challenges, many young people and survivors also experienced trauma, anxiety, depression, and stigma.
She said integrating mental health and psychosocial support into service delivery was, therefore, not optional but necessary to ensure comprehensive care for adolescents.
The Minister said the government, through the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, was expanding adolescent-friendly health corners to ensure privacy, confidentiality and respectful care for young people seeking health services.
She added that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, through the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), continued to provide legal aid, shelter and counselling services to victims and survivors.
In his presentation, Dr Moses Barima Djimatey, Eastern Regional Deputy Director of Public Health, spoke on national health priorities and policies on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR), Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services.
He said the policies were aimed at aligning service delivery with national health goals and ensuring that adolescents had access to appropriate, quality, and responsive health services.
Dr Djimatey identified stigmatisation, cultural norms, limited numbers of trained personnel, inadequate funding, weak referral systems, low community awareness, and poor data reporting as some of the challenges affecting effective adolescent health service delivery.
He recommended that the Ministry of Health strengthen policy implementation, build the capacity of health workers, improve youth-friendly services, and intensify community education.
He also called for increased male engagement, integration of mental health services into adolescent healthcare, strengthened multi-sectoral collaboration, and improved monitoring and evaluation to enhance outcomes.
Moreover, the Regional Programme Focal Person said activities approved for the third quarter under the UNFPA-GOG Eighth Country Programme would include review and tracking engagements with 46 representatives from the Regional Coordinating Council and young people from seven District Assemblies to monitor implementation of the Medium-Term Development Plan.
The programme would also train 120 parents from selected households to address harmful masculinities and behaviours.
In addition, it would support surgical repair for 10 obstetric fistula cases.
GNA
Editing by D.I. Laary/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Emelia B. Addae
Email: [email protected]