By: Michael Kofi Kenetey
The Atiwa East District Education Directorate in collaboration with the Family Strengthening Programme, FSP of SOS Children’s Villages, Asiakwa has schooled pupils on Sexual and Reproductive Health Right, SRHR education in seven Basic Schools in Adasawase and New Jejeti in the Atiwa East District of the Eastern Region.
The education on SRHR is to help minimize the rise of teenage pregnancy and its related issues such as unsafe abortion and teenage pregnancy complications in the district. It is also to educate the pupils on dangers and negative effects of sexual activities on adolescents and young people, and the consequences it pose to their education and future career.
In an interview with GBC News, the Clinical Psychologist at SOS Children’s Villages, Ghana, Innocent Asiwome Funn revealed that during their need assessment, it was noticed that teenage pregnancy and its related issues such as unsafe abortion in the various communities were very high.
He noted that the health directorate in the area made complaint during their need assessment of the incessant teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortion and its complications in the district, hence their decision to embark on education on the negative effects in engaging in sexual activities as adolescents.
Mr. Asiwome Funn further advised the pupils to make a conscious effort and decision to refrain from engaging in any form of sexual activity. He added that abstinence is the effective and surest way of preventing teenage pregnancy, abortion, birth control and disease prevention.
The Head teacher of New Jejeti Methodist Junior High School, JHS, Jones Akubiom highly praised SOS Children’s Villages, Asiakwa for organizing such an educative and eye-opening training program for the pupils which will go a long way to help in the development of the youth.
He advised the pupils to be circumspect with what they do and desist from negative social vices that will thwart their future career dreams and hinder their development.
The Family Strengthening Programmes Coordinator of the SOS Children’s Villages, Asiakwa, David Kanortey stated that it is appropriate to educate the youth about sexual and reproductive health rights to know that changes they experience in their systems during adolescent age are natural.
The pupils were also educated on various negative effects of sexual activities on adolescents and young people. The effects were classified into physical, emotional and psychological effects.
The physical effects include Sexually Transmitted Infections, STIs, unintended pregnancies, physical injuries or trauma, change in physical development, among others. While the emotional and psychological effects, on the other hand, include emotional distress or trauma, guilt, shame, anxiety, change in self-esteem, and relationship issues.
The participating schools were Adasawase Methodist Primary, Adasawase D/A Basic School, Adasawase Presby Basic School, New Jejeti Presby Basic School, New Jejeti Methodist Primary and JHS School and New Jejeti Roman Catholic Basic School. At Adasawase, participating schools include Adasawase Methodist Primary, Adasawase D/A Basic School, Adasawase Presby Basic School with four hundred and 10 pupils comprising 191 females and 219 males.
While at New Jejeti, the participating schools include New Jejeti Presby Basic School, New Jejeti Methodist Primary and Junior High School and New Jejeti Roman Catholic Basic School with 425 pupils comprising 217 females and 208 males.