PLAN Ghana establishes three clinics in C/R

Gomoa-Buduattah (C/R), July 4, GNA - Plan Ghana (PG), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has established three adolescent-friendly educational clinics at Awutu-Bawjiase, Kasoa and Gomoa-Buduattah, all in the Central Region.

Each of them is equipped with indoor and outdoor games, electricity generators and plastic chairs, valued at more than 100 million cedis. Other facilities include, television sets and stands, video cassette recorders, radio sets, lounges and conference halls stocked with pamphlets, leaflets and other reading material on HIV/AIDS.

Mrs. Bernice Nartey Quao, Health Facilitator of the Bawjiase Programme Area of Plan Ghana, announced these at the inauguration of the Gomoa-Buduattah clinic at Buduattah.

Speaking at the function, Mrs Emelia Allan, Bawjiase Programme Area Manager of the organisation, said the rationale behind the establishment of the educational clinics was to help reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya and the Gomoa Districts.

She stressed the determination of the organisation to assist the government and the people to solve their health and educational problems especially in the deprived and rural communities.

Miss Diana Hall-Baidu, Gomoa District Director of Health Services, thanked Plan for the gesture and gave the assurance that the Ministry of Health would provide dedicated officers to man the clinics to achieve the objectives they were established.

She called on parents and guardians to co-operate and encourage their children, particularly the girl-child to patronise the clinic and suggested to traditional councils in the two districts to promulgate bye-laws to compel parents to provide the basic needs of their daughters to prevent teenage pregnancies and early marriages.

Nana Ahunako Bonsu III, Gomoa-Buduattahene, praised Plan Ghana and promised to ensure the success of the project, saying, "any parent or guardian caught depriving his or her child from patronising this clinic will be dealt with drastically without fear or favour".