Accra: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Monday reaffirmed its commitment to support Ussher Hospital's integrated program aimed at empowering vulnerable adolescent girls and young mothers. Dr. Sennen Hounton, the UNFPA Regional Director for West and Central Africa, made this assurance during his visit to the hospital as part of his four-day trip to Ghana, preceding the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Hounton's visit provided an opportunity to engage with beneficiaries of the hospital's adolescent-focused program, which integrates sexual and reproductive health services with protection and economic empowerment initiatives for vulnerable girls and young women. Dr. Hounton commended the hospital staff for their dedication to enhancing community well-being and dignity.
Dr. Hounton expressed his admiration for the hospital's efforts, stating, 'I think the passion that you are showing is exactly what motivates us, and I'm really impressed.' He further assured, 'On behalf of my boss, we can commit to you to do our utmost best to continue supporting you in the work.'
The Ussher Hospital program strategically uses ante- and post-natal clinic attendance as a gateway to offer a comprehensive package of services that includes livelihood and entrepreneurship training, financial literacy, nutritional counseling, family planning, mental health support, and screenings for HIV and Hepatitis B. Additionally, it provides counseling on sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence.
Hospital authorities highlighted that the initiative not only empowers beneficiaries economically but also equips them with vocational skills and connects them to employment opportunities. A notable intervention under this program is the UNFPA-Prada Group initiative, 'Fashion Expressions: The Stories She Wears,' which was launched in 2021. This project, in collaboration with International Needs Ghana and the Polyclinic Sewing Centre in Jamestown, offers fashion design training to vulnerable young women, linking them with local fashion brands and reducing their susceptibility to sexual and gender-based violence.
Since its inception in 2021, 30 beneficiaries have enrolled in the program, with 10 having successfully completed their training. Dr. Philomina Bonsu, Medical Superintendent of Ussher Hospital, emphasized that UNFPA's support has greatly bolstered the hospital's adolescent health program. While the hospital has historically provided adolescent health services under the Ghana Health Service, the partnership with UNFPA has broadened its scope to include skills development and empowerment.
Dr. Bonsu stated, 'We realized that many adolescents were school dropouts and some had substance abuse challenges, so we introduced the program to strengthen their capacity and help them become productive members of the community.' She added that although beneficiaries receive sewing machines, stipends, and start-up support after training, many young people have shown interest in other vocational areas such as hairdressing and nail technology. Dr. Bonsu expressed hope that the program would expand to encompass these areas, thus benefiting more adolescents.
Dr. Brown also called for additional partnerships to address the hospital's infrastructure and space limitations. The timing of Dr. Hounton's visit is significant, as it coincides with the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health, scheduled for July 21-22 in Accra. The summit aims to consolidate African leaders' and partners' political commitment towards ending AIDS and tuberculosis by 2030, reducing preventable maternal deaths, advancing universal health coverage, and building resilient health systems across the continent.
Dr. Hounton, a medical doctor with over two decades of experience in maternal health and health systems, manages UNFPA's programs across 23 countries in West and Central Africa.