The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has revealed that teenage pregnancy cases in the country increase exponentially from the month of July each year.
This, the service partly attributes to festival celebrations that are often held from that month.
“Yes, per the records we have, we do record teenage pregnancy cases in almost every quarter of the year but we’ve realised that the figures shoot up from the third quarters and you know it’s in July through August and September that festivals in our various communities are celebrated, during that time too the kids are on vacation so they take advantage of the festivities to engage in vices that result in, among other things, teenage pregnancy ”, this was made by Madam Mabel Adadzewa Dontwi, a mental health officer with the GHS’ Kormantse Clinic.
She was quick to add that, “meanwhile the motive of our traditional leaders in instituting festivals is to among other things, bring people together, bring unity and development to their respective communities but it is unfortunate that our young girls have chosen festivals to mean merry making and having sex with their male counterparts. So I think we need to sensitize them [the teenagers] that festivals are not for drinking, dancing and giving out yourselves to men to be slept with because the end result of being slept with is cumbersome ”.
The health officer was addressing section of final year pupils from Junior High Schools (JHS) from Anomabo, Saltpond and Yamoransa Circuits in Anomabo at last Friday’s edition of weekly seminars being organized by an education initiative called Boys and Girls Club of Ghana (BGCG) for the pupils in the area.
Speaking on the topic “Stress management, A Recipe To Pass Examination ”, Miss Dontwi charged the pupils to desist from any activity that would bring depression and stress upon them which would make them lose concentration in studying. “The only thing you should be thinking about this time is your books and not a fiancée or fiancé because they all bring depression and stress…yes, we are in August and we know festivals are all over but please know that there is a task ahead of you…. you need free and healthy mind to study so free the mind”, she advised
The weekly seminars are part of events that the Club was embarking on to assist the pupils in order to aid them pass their pending examination.
According to Mr Kweku Quainoo, executive director of the Club, there were series of resource persons the club intends to engage to orient the pupils until schools reopen.
“As we speak, we’ve organized vacation classes for them which run from Monday through to Friday and we have decided to, after the first period on Fridays, use the remaining time for seminars where we invite resource persons such as counselors, nurses, examiners, psychologists and scholars to talk to them”, he explained
Miss Patricia Quainoo and Miss Ethel Yayra Ocran, both student nurses at the Winneba College of Community Health Nurse, were present to share their personal experiences in order to encourage them.
Miss Quainoo advised pupils who were staying with their other relatives other than their real parents and for that matter being harassed to overlook the ordeals and rather pursue their goals.
“We’ve all been through such before but because we had goal, we just endured it and now here we are….yes, at times food to eat to school becomes a problem but in all you have to know that God has plans for you….after all you won’t stay there forever and ever so please just focus and pursue your goals…say no to those boys’ lies they will just use you and leave you”, Miss Quainoo encouraged.
Story: ghanadailies.com//Kojo Ata Kakrah Abrowah (KAKA) // anthonyabrowah@gmail.com
Photo credit: IkeKuQ photos