By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Sandema (U/E), Sept. 19, GNA – The Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organisation (ADDRO), in collaboration with the Builsa North Municipal Assembly, has commissioned an Early Childhood Safe Space Centre at Sandema to support adolescent mothers and their children.
The centre, funded by Episcopal Relief & Development, USA, has been designed to improve the dignity, wellbeing and empowerment of adolescent mothers while providing childcare services for children aged zero to 36 months.
The Centre will also provide caregiver support and peer-to-peer learning group meetings, home visits, psychosocial support, skills training and nutrition support services, including cooking demonstrations and kitchen garden support.
Other services include sexual and reproductive health education, child welfare and health screening services, as well as age-appropriate play and learning activities for the children.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mr Emmanuel Tia Nabila, the Executive Director of ADDRO, said the Centre represented more than the opening of a physical structure, describing it as “the opening of a door to hope, dignity, opportunity, and a better future for adolescent mothers and their children.”
He said adolescent mothers often faced stigma, social isolation, economic hardship, interrupted education and limited access to essential services, but their circumstances should not define their future.
“The Centre will provide a safe and inclusive environment where the mothers can access learning opportunities, psychosocial support and practical skills to strengthen their wellbeing and improve their capacity to care for their children,” he stated.
Ms Geraldine Sicola, the Director of Integrated Early Childhood Development Programme at Episcopal Relief and Development, USA, said the organisation supported early childhood programmes in seven African countries because of the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
She said about 80 per cent of brain development occurred between birth and three years, making the provision of nurturing care during that period critical to children’s development.
“The wellbeing of caregivers, particularly mothers, is equally important because if your needs are not attended to, then the children cannot thrive and develop,” she said.
Ms Sicola urged the adolescent mothers to prioritise the wellbeing of their children while also taking care of themselves and mentoring other young people to protect their wellbeing and future.
Right Reverend Denis Debukari Tong, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale, commended the initiative and called for measures to ensure its sustainability.
He appealed to relevant authorities to explore ways of including the children at the Centre in the School Feeding Programme and consider absorbing staff of the facility into the mainstream system to guarantee continuity.
The Bishop also suggested that ADDRO and its partners could, in future, consider establishing safe spaces for victims of gender-based and domestic violence.
Pognab Atabalie Azantilow, Overlord Queen Mother of the Builsa Traditional Area, urged the adolescent mothers to be cautious in their relationships and avoid circumstances that could lead to further teenage pregnancies.
Mr Pontius Pilate Apaabey, the Secretary to the Paramount Chief of the Builsa Traditional Area, commended ADDRO and its partners for coming to the aid of adolescent mothers and pledged the traditional council’s support for the activities of the Centre.
Mr Solomon Akogti, the Builsa North Municipal Chief Executive urged the community to take ownership of the Centre, protect it and avoid stigmatising adolescent mothers.
He said the Assembly would continue collaborating with ADDRO, traditional authorities, development partners and other stakeholders to ensure that the Centre remained functional, accessible and sustainable.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Email: [email protected]