A forum has been held for the youth to discuss issues around their Reproductive Health Education (RHE) and development as well as engage stakeholders on such issues.
Representatives from youth groups in the five regions in the north attended the forum in Tamale dubbed: “YOUTHATALK” to discuss the issues, which included teenage pregnancy, child marriages, sexual and gender-based violence, HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections.
They also engaged representatives from the National Youth Authority, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, and the National Population Council on measures to address such issues.
It was organised by Norsaac, a human rights community engagement, and policy influencing organisation, as part of the Informed Choices for Change project funded by AXIS to champion RHE.
Some of the youth, who participated in the forum, expressed need for especially health workers to be professional in attending to their health needs and not divulge information about their health issues to others.
Madam Miriam Bonah, Senior Midwife at Tamale Central Hospital said most health facilities had had their staff trained on youth friendly services assuring the youth of professional health services.
Dr Peter Attafuah, Northern Regional Director of Education expressed need for increased advocacy on issues of RHE to properly guide children to lead responsible lifestyles.
Dr Attafuah said such advocacy should target parents and religious leaders to appreciate the fact that there was need to teach children sex education such that they would not kick against it.
Alhaji Issifu Seidu Iddi, Northern Regional Director of National Population Council said contraceptive use was increasing in the region saying this was good for the health of couples and the country’s population.
Miss Blessilla Na-afoe Kandoh, Youth Advocacy and Campaigns Coordinator at Norsaac told the youth that “RHE is an empowerment tool. It is just to enhance our knowledge to make informed choices about our RHE and our overall development and also empower young people. So, we also have a role to play in this advocacy for RHE.”
She said “in view of issues affecting young people including high levels of teenage pregnancy, child marriages, sexual and gender-based violence, HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, we need RHE guidelines so that we have approved content on RHE for all young people in the country to have access to quality information.”
