Anlo-afiadenyigba: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), has organised a Youth Open Day dubbed 'The Clinic Is Yours.'
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative held at Anlo-Afiadenyigba health centre in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, was designed to enable adolescents in selected districts of the region to access free Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services without fear or intimidation. Mr. Christopher E. Makam, the Focal Person for the UNFPA Adolescent Girls Empowerment Project and GBV Scale-Up Project at PPAG, stated that the initiative is part of the Government of Ghana-UNFPA Country Programme.
Mr. Makam explained that the activity aims to familiarise young people with service delivery points so they can confidently visit health facilities. He highlighted cultural challenges where young people often feel shy or embarrassed to seek reproductive health services. The programme, currently running in five districts including Anloga, Keta, Akatsi North, Adaklu, and Central Tongu, was developed using data-driven prioritisation, focusing on areas with high prevalence of teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and sexually transmitted infections.
The selection of districts was based on scientific data on adolescent services, allowing the programme to target areas where the challenges are most pronounced. Mr. Makam emphasized the importance of building rapport between adolescents and health facility staff to encourage youth to seek services without fear of judgment. The Youth Open Day intended to target around 50 adolescents, but attracted a significantly larger number, indicating high demand for accurate information.
Mr. Makam cautioned against exploiting young people for illicit sex or prostitution, warning that such practices have long-term consequences that outweigh immediate economic benefits. He stressed that proper education and skills are essential for the future of adolescents, and neglecting this can adversely affect families, communities, and the national economy.
To address the needs of those who remain shy about seeking help in person, the project has introduced digital channels, including two toll-free lines, the Yenkasa Contact Centre and the Orange Support Centre, to provide comprehensive support. Callers can report gender-based violence, seek health information, and receive counseling and medical support.
The Adolescent Girls Empowerment Project aims to reduce teenage pregnancy and STIs by ensuring young people receive accurate information from trained professionals. The initiative ensures health facilities in the five districts are oriented to provide non-judgmental, confidential, and youth-friendly services.
The organisers reported that over 40 activities were carried out in the region last year alone, with the current Youth Open Day being part of a broader effort to make health facilities more accessible and welcoming to young people. The project combines facility familiarisation with digital options to ensure no adolescent is left without a safe channel for information and care.
Students of the Anlo-Afiadenyigba SHS, including Wahab Salamatu and Nkrumah Grace, expressed their gratitude for the initiative, acknowledging its positive impact on their lives and future aspirations.