Sunyani: Mrs Felicia Konadu, Health Promotion Manager at the Sunyani Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has urged families to encourage sexually active adolescent girls to access adolescent health corners for counselling and guidance. She explained that the adolescent health corners, established in public health facilities, are designed to address the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people, particularly girls.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs Konadu noted that some girls may continue engaging in pre-marital sex, and therefore, it is critical to counsel, guide, and protect them from pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. She advised that if adolescent girls cannot control their sexual desires, they should be supported to make informed decisions. Mrs Konadu made these remarks during a community forum and radio outreach clinic in Sunyani, emphasizing the importance of understanding sex to either abstain or protect themselves.
The Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), in collaboration with local partners, organized the forum as part of its 'Resilient City for Adolescent' (RCA) project. GloMeF partners with the Citizens Watch Ghana and Indigenous Women Empowerment Network to implement the RCA under the Healthy Cities for Adolescents Programme, an initiative by Foundation Botnar through Ecorys UK Limited. The forum provided a platform for adolescents, stakeholders, and community members to discuss issues affecting adolescent wellbeing and promote awareness and informed decision-making.
Mrs Konadu also called on teachers to create a safe environment and establish friendly relationships with adolescents, especially girls, to facilitate discussions on sexual reproductive care. She emphasized the need to educate them on adolescent characteristics and guide them in practicing proper personal hygiene while warning against substance abuse and alcoholism. She commended GloMeF and its partners for the RCA project's impact on youth lives.
Mrs Patricia Awuah, Bono Regional Guidance and Counseling Coordinator of the Ghana Education Service (GES), advised teachers to refer adolescent-sex related issues to the health directorate or adolescent health corners. She reiterated the GES's stance on promoting abstinence and encouraged teachers to guide adolescents away from unhealthy pre-marital sexual practices that could harm their health.
Earlier, Mr Jesse Sarkodie, Programmes Manager of IWEN, explained that the RCA project aims to empower adolescents socially, politically, and economically, enabling them to actively participate in decision-making processes.