Etwebo (W/R), Feb. 12, GNA - Mr Kenneth Norris, General Manager of Chirano Gold Mines Limited, has called on state institutions to develop a confidential adolescent reproductive health care into the health delivery system to make it friendlier for adolescents to patronize those services.
He said sexually active teenagers were at risk of becoming pregnant, contracting sexually transmitted diseases and infections or endangering their lives through illegal abortion.
These were contained in an address read on his behalf at the opening of a two-day adolescent reproductive clinic organized and funded by the Chirano Gold Mines Limited for 70 youths drawn from six communities within its catchment area.
'Most adolescents will prefer to listen to their peers due to lack of information about their sexuality, visit unregistered facilities when pregnant or engage in self-medication which may endanger their lives,' he said.
Mr Norris said the future of most adolescent girls could be destroyed through inaccurate and biased health information about their sexuality with its attendant cost of treatment and burden on the society.
He explained that the goal of the clinic was to ensure that adolescents were aware of their sexuality and assist them to make a smooth transition to adulthood without any complications.
Mr Norris said a key intervention to reducing adolescents' issues was to introduce early educational intervention on adolescent reproductive health in schools, at the community level and through youth camps.
Pastor Isaac Elton Yeboah, in charge of the Chirano District Church of Pentecost, speaking on; 'Approaches to Counselling,' said cultural differences, fashion and the increasing glorification of sex through music, was a contributory factor to the increasing cases of teenage pregnancy and other sexually transmitted infections and diseases among the youth.
He, therefore, suggested that all forms of counselling should be offered the teenager, including but not limited to education, information and interest and the desire to listen to the teenager and guide them along the correct path.
Rev. Okyere Bediako, Pastor at the Ramseyer Congregation at Akoti, said the adolescents needed constant guidance and care, physical and emotional support and fairness in all discussions about sexuality and its positive and negative effects on their lives.
Mr Stephen W. K. Mensah, Community Relations Superintendent, reminded the participants that they should use their knowledge to assist their peers while at the same time serve as role models in their respective communities.
He said as the backbone of society, the youth must stay focused and avoid peer pressure and its related effects.
GNA
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