By Tilda Acorlor
Students of Taviefe Senior High School have expressed immense joy and confidence after participating in a 2-day transformative Sexual Reproductive and Mental Health Bootcamp at Taviefe in the Ho Municipality.
The Bootcamp aims to enlighten students to make better and informed health choices on Sexual Reproduction and Mental Health Issues in an interactive way.
The students revealed that they feel empowered to make decisions about their bodies and minds.
“The boot camp has helped me to understand the importance of mental health and to seek help when needed,” Priscilla Gabianu said.
“I learned a lot, like how to keep myself healthy. This education is different, and I enjoyed it. In our area, we don’t learn about these things, so I will practice them,” Logo Pearl and Dzivenu Seth said.
The boot camp was interactive and created a safe space for students to share their experiences and ask questions.
The students were taken through insightful topics by seasoned health and wellness professionals in teenage pregnancy, puberty, building healthy relationships through respect and communication, Mental Wellness, and Self-Care.
The Technical Coordinator at the Ghana AIDS Commission in the Volta Region, Mrs. Mary Naa Asheley Anyomi highlighted the dangers of young people relying on social media for Sexual and Reproductive health the information that has led to poor and misleading decisions.
She advised the students to seek professional counsel from experienced tutors, abstain from sex, and wait for the right time, which is the most effective prevention.
She also added that 6,144 teenage pregnancies were recorded in 2020, an alarming statistic that could hinder the education of young people.
The Senior Nursing Officer on Mental Health at the Ho Municipal Hospital, Mr. Joseph Gyeedu, also led an enlightening session, where he emphasized on the need for early intervention.
Mr. Gyeedu said it is important for young people to prioritize their mental health because mental health conditions start from childhood. He added that it will help them know who they are to make informed decisions and choices early while they grow.
Young Facilitators, Miss Kendall Mantey and Albert Gharbin also led a session on puberty and building healthy relationships respectively.
They touched on physical changes and emotional swings as well as respect and communication.
The Bootcamp at the Taviefe Senior High School is the third in the series of Bootcamps under the Young and Safe Project, having organized the same at the Mawuli School and Mawuko Girls School respectively.
The Young and Safe Bootcamp is an initiative organized under the Young and Safe project of the Healthy Cities of Adolescents program aimed at educating and empowering young individuals in Ho on crucial topics related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Mental and Cyber Health.
It’s in partnership with Node Eight, Botnar Fondation, Ghana Education Service, Ho Municipal Assembly, and Love Aid Foundation.
