Mr. Nii Saipei
By: Akpabli Daniel Yao/VR/Ho
Mr. Nii Saipei, Director of programmes at the Alliance for Reproductive Health Right (ARHR), has lamented on the negative impart Covid-19 had on implementation of project activities and participation of adolescent in project activities within the South Dayi District in the Volta Region
He said this has accounted for the low figure being recorded for some activities of adolescent reproductive campaign in the district as he was worried about the alarming increase in adolescent pregnancy.
“Between January to June this year, one hundred and eighteen (118) adolescent were found to be pregnant indicating a need to intensify education efforts” he stated
He made this revelation at the stakeholder engagement meeting organized by the Volta Regional Co-ordinating council to discuss the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) transformative goals in the region.
According to Mr. Saipei, their organization is working with support from the UNFPA to contribute to the systematic empowerment of the adolescent girls through the provision of right Health education, capacity building of adolescent health Champions, Peer networking and contraceptive demand generation activities, empowerment of marginalized girls particularly girls with disabilities and health entertainment fairs and Drama in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region.
He noted that, as part of their activities, stakeholders meeting was organized at the district Assembly where twenty-two (22) key district level stakeholders were reached including traditional Leaders, Parents, District Assembly and District health directorate and providers, adolescents, religious bodies, media and among others.
He said 20 AHC’s across 8 selected project communities underwent a three days training on a UNFPA approved training curriculum for adolescent and five (5) community facilitators were also trained to support the work of the AHCs as well as reach out to community leadership, parents, guardienne to change perceptions and attitudes towards adolescent health.
He said, AHCs also undertook one-on-one and small group educational activities and reached out to 2,310 adolescents which included 8 People with Disabilities (PWDs), 1,122 adolescents between 10-14 years and 1,180 adolescents between 15-19 years.
Mr. Vitus Atanga, United Nations Population Fund official, Accra noted in his briefing that, even though the UNFPA has made a significant progress over the years through their numerous initiatives including maternal and reproductive health in reducing family-based mortality and others, there are still works to be done.
He observed that, the Government Policy of Free Senior High School education has made a positive impact on many young girls by providing them the opportunity to at least have a secondary education as he noted that, education play a key role when it comes to sexual intended results.
He further craves the indulgence of Traditional leaders to intervene in curbing the influx of violence against women adding that, their role is very crucial.
Meanwhile the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa has commended the UNFPA for their support to partnering Government in a campaign on public sexual reproductive health, gender equality and a campaign against gender-based violence.
He reiterated that, achieving the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been integrated into the national development agenda and the National budget making the SDG advisory unit to be established in the office of the president.
The explained that the SDG can be fulfilled with full enjoyment of sexual reproductive health, a right which everyone must aggregate it for development.
To reduce the negative practices of sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices in Volta and Oti Regions, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has supported various organizations to undertake educative and transformative initiatives in two Districts in the Volta Region.
BACKGROUND
The United Nations Population Fund, formerly the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency whose mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
The UNFPA programmes in Ghana are aimed at achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health, promoting reproductive rights, and reducing maternal mortality by accelerating progress on the ICPD agenda and MDG5(A&B).
Priority is given to improving skilled delivery, uptake of family planning, and quality maternal health care.
UNFPA also assists to improve the use of and access to HIV prevention services, particularly among youth. Programmes also support the implementation of the national population programme and the domestic violence action plan.
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