The Visionary Norman Foundation has embarked on a sensitization outreach to the people of Suke in the Lambussie District of the Upper West Region.
At a durbar of Chiefs and other stakeholders such as the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) and school children drawn from the Suke, Dendin Samuah and Sakafatu School Complex were given talks on the need to protect the teenage girls.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, Dr. Sussie Anku explained that the target area of Lambusie is as a result of the high incidence of teenage pregnancy in the area hence the necessity to help draw the awareness to the indigenes to enable a stop to the increasing situation. The adolescent girls were also taken through menstrual hygiene.
‘‘We have come to realized that most of the root causes of it were poverty, early marriages, elopement, and it’s very important for us. We have come to realize it’s not only the girl child, other stakeholders like the chiefs, Education Service and the Ghana Health service as key stakeholders, they need to be part of the sensitization,’’ she added.
The acting District director of the GHS, Bin-eranaa Jerdu Nuhu explained that 647 teenagers were recorded for ANC attendance in the district in 2022 which constituted over 10% of ANC attendance and expressed concerns over mothers who may not be developed enough to give birth.
On behalf of the District Director of Education, Mr. Dele Anthony said day in day out the situation is on the alert and efforts have been put in place which seem to be making an impact as some nursing mothers have been reentered into schools as a way of encouraging attendance for the school dropout as results of pregnancies.
The adolescent girls gave poems and pledged to hold themselves from the influences that may draw them into teenage pregnancies and also promised to use their sanitary pads as they were taken through on its use.
The outreaches also carried out health screening exercises on HIV, Malaria, Pregnancy, Syphilis and other tests as residents trudged to the venue for checkup.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Digme Robert
