Establish sexual reproductive health centres

Apam (C/R), April 2, GNA - District Assemblies, the Ghana Education Service and religious bodies have been urged to team up to establish youth centres for adolescents to have access to information on sexual reproduction health.

The assemblies should also enact by-laws to prevent the youth from indecent dressing.

These were contained in a statement issued by participants at a workshop on Policy Advocacy and Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH), at Apam.

It was attended by members of the Gomoa District Population Advocacy Committee (DPAC), and funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation of America, through the African Youth Alliance (AYA). The statement called on traditional authorities to set up guidance and counselling committees in towns and villages to repair distressed marriages.

They should also, in partnership with district assemblies enact by-laws which could make divorce unattractive, and those, which could protect the rights of children of broken homes.

It urged churches and social clubs to hold regular meetings on responsible parenthood.

The statement called for the intensification of family planning services and HIV/AIDS education programmes. Addressing the workshop, Mr. Paul Djan, Central Regional Population Officer, urged the government to ensure easy access to people who needed modern contraceptive methods.

Mr. Djan appealed to the government and district assemblies to allocate adequate resources for funding reproductive and sexual health programmes.

In a welcoming address, Miss Joyce Aidoo, Gomoa District Chief Executive (DCE), pledged the support of the assembly for adolescent sexual reproductive programme and assured the District Population Advocacy Committee of her commitment to make their work a success. Mr. Eric Akobeng, the District Focal Person for AYA projects, commended the participants for a good work and gave the assurance that their findings would be studied and implemented.