Girls programme reduces teenage pregnancies in Upper East

The Upper East Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Mahamadu Azanko, says the Adolescent Girls Programme — initiated by the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) — has led to a reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality and teenage pregnancies in the region.

He stresses that it has also improved access to reproductive health and family planning education, services and commodities, and acceptance of family planning by indigenes.

He further states that it has consequently led to the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and related abortions, and a reduction in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

He said the programme was supporting and complementing the government’s delivery of a national reproductive health agenda, saying reproductive health was key to socio-economic development.

Alhaji Azanko was addressing a team from the UNFPA who called on him ahead of a scheduled spotlight monitoring of the Complementary Adolescent Girls Programme in the Upper East Region.

The monitoring, which was carried out last Tuesday and Wednesday, was to enable the UNFPA team members to familiarise themselves with the progress of the implementation and possible challenges, and to explore other areas of cooperation.

Mr Azanko said the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) was happy to be partnering the UNFPA regarding the programme, especially in relation to the sensitisation and public education on adolescent sexual reproductive health to help reduce or curtail the burden of teenage pregnancies.

The monitoring, which was carried out last Tuesday and Wednesday, was to enable the UNFPA team members to familiarise themselves with the progress of the implementation and possible challenges, and to explore other areas of cooperation.

Mr Azanko said the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) was happy to be partnering the UNFPA regarding the programme, especially in relation to the sensitisation and public education on adolescent sexual reproductive health to help reduce or curtail the burden of teenage pregnancies.

Source: ghanaweb.com