By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ave-Dakpa (V/R), Oct. 02, GNA – The Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment Programme (AGP) is bringing sexual and reproductive health services closer to out-of-school adolescents and young people in the Akatsi North District to improve access to family planning, STI screening and treatment.
The programme was designed to increase demand for, and access to condoms and family planning services among young people, particularly those engaged in apprenticeship and skills training
Mr Emmanuel Christopher Makam, the Focal Person for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-supported AGP at the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), was explaining the impact of the GAP at a sensitisation programme for adolescents, at Ave-Dakpa.
He said the programme used the NextGen Forum, a community youth-led platform, to bring the young people together for education on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and family planning.
Mr Makam said facilitators from the Ghana Health Service also educated participants on contraceptive choices, addressed misconceptions about family planning and encouraged them to make informed decisions to successfully navigate adolescence and achieve their future aspirations.
He said the programme also provided free screening for STIs, including HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis, as well as treatment for those diagnosed with infections.
“We also distribute condoms free of charge and provide family planning services at no cost to young people who choose to access them,” he said.
Mr Makam said the AGP was funded by Global Affairs Canada through the UNFPA and implemented by the PPAG.
Some of the key stakeholders are the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, National Youth Authority, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Department of Social Welfare.
Mr Makam said representatives of Global Affairs Canada, the UNFPA and UNICEF joined the AGP Steering Committee’s field visit to observe the programme and interact with beneficiaries.
According to him, the beneficiaries called for the expansion of the programme through the establishment of more adolescent-friendly corners and increased access to reproductive health services.
Mr Makam said although the activity was initially targeted at 100 young people, more than 120 participated, reflecting growing interest in reproductive health services among adolescents and young people.
“We are seeing a positive change in the health-seeking behaviour of young people. They are now more willing to come out for screening and seek reproductive health services,” he said.
He explained that community-based screening had enabled early detection of some infections before the affected persons developed symptoms, allowing health workers to provide timely treatment or referrals where necessary.
Mr Makam said bringing the services to the communities was particularly important because stigma surrounding reproductive health issues could discourage some young people from visiting health facilities.
“Now they have the services at their doorstep, making it easier for them to access the care they need,” he said.
He said although the programme was still at an early stage, increased knowledge about abstinence, teenage pregnancy prevention and family planning among participants gave hope that sustained engagement could contribute to reducing teenage pregnancy in the district.
The programme was witnessed by members of the AGP Steering Committee as part of their field visit to Ave-Dakpa to assess the implementation and impact of interventions under the programme.
Dr Emmily Naphambo, the Deputy Representative of UNFPA, urged the adolescent girls to take ownership of decisions concerning their health and future.
“Your bodies belong to you. You have the power and the agency to decide what is good for you,” she said.
Dr Naphambo urged girls who were already mothers to determine when they wanted to have another child and cautioned them against succumbing to pressure or any form of violation.
“Stand up for yourselves as strong adolescent girls because you are the future of Ghana,” she said.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah