Ghana urged to prioritise sexual and reproductive health
Madam Elizabeth Korpi, Zabzugu District Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has noted that the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of the youth should be a national priority to protect their future.
She said the future of the youth could be ruined since the country had entered the golden age, where about 45 per cent of the people range from 10 to 30.
Madam Korpi, who made the observation during the district observation of the 2015 edition of International Youth Day at celebration at Zabzugu in the Northern Region, said: “We need to ensure that the SRH needs of the young people are highly prioritised.”
She said without such measures the youth could become vulnerable to high-risk behaviour and ill-health out-comes likes unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, HIV, sexual abuse and gender based violence.
The day, which was organised by the district assembly, in collaboration with GHS and National Youth Authority, was on the theme: “Youth Civic Engagement.”
It brought together students, identifiable youth groups, heads of department and representatives from the religious bodies, traditional authorities as well as the district assembly.
Madam Korpi charged policy formulators and implementers to ensure the effective implementation of policies targeted at the youth at the district levels.
She called for capacities to be built to ensure the effective handling of SRH issues among students.
Mr Issifu Alidu Laa-Bandow, District Chief Executive, in a speech read on his behalf, said when young people are disconnected from policy makers, it results in moral decadence.
“The state will in turn be forced to use its resources to deal with the related issues that may come with it, which are totally preventable,” he added.
He urged the youth to take advantage of the various opportunities being provided by government, to develop themselves, which includes heavy investment in the areas of education, health care and entrepreneurship.
Mr Philip Alhassan, District Director of Education, in a speech read on his behalf, highlighted some negative life styles that he said are regrettably acquired by some young people when they attain adolescence.
These, he said include: wrongful application of information communication technology, examination malpractices and teenage pregnancies.
Mr Alhassan suggested the need for mentorship, obedience and upholding to high moral standards to help the young generation to become the future leaders that could take Ghana to the next level.
Mr Mohammed Salahudeen, District Development Planning Officer, asked the youth to equip themselves with vital and useful information which would make them better persons.
Source: GNA