The Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), last year, launched a ‘Youth Open Day’ under its Adolescent Girl Empowerment Programme, to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services among young people at Sogakope in the Volta Region.

The initiative, called ‘Youth Open Day: The Clinic is Yours,’ targets adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19, with the objective of making reproductive health services more youth-friendly and reachable at designated health facilities.

The programme is being implemented in five districts, with one health facility selected in each district to host the Youth Open Day.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Volta Regional Focal Person of UNFPA Adolescent Girl Empowerment Programme Services, Christopher Makam, said the programmes were inclusive in nature and would, for that matter, benefit adolescent boys as well.

He said for far too long, cultural practices had discouraged adolescents from seeking professional reproductive health services, leaving them to only rely on their peers for information, which often resulted in misinformation and unhealthy outcomes.

He said the programme was, therefore, meant to familiarise adolescents with the health facilities and health workers in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

The focal person said the initiative also created space for health workers to better understand adolescents and respond appropriately to their sexual reproductive needs.

He appealed to corporate bodies, non-governmental organisations and various stakeholders to support the programme and help to extend it to other vulnerable groups outside the adolescent age bracket.

“With additional support, we can reach out to more people and contribute to better reproductive outcomes in the communities,” Mr Makam said.

A facilitator of the programme, Rachel Nutifafa, said the timing of the programme was strategic, as schools were on vacation, making it easier to reach out to the adolescents from the communities.

She entreated parents to engage openly with their children on sexual reproductive health issues.

Anloga District

Earlier, in a related development, 187 adolescents from Anyanui, Atiteti and Agbledomi in the Anloga District benefited from sexual and reproductive health education sessions and free screening for sexually transmitted infections.

This was organised jointly by the Anloga District Health Directorate, PPAG and UNFPA, with a focus on equipping adolescents with practical knowledge to make informed life choices, protect their health and remain committed to their education.

An official of the District Health Directorate, Getrude Agbayiza, said sexual reproductive health was one important tool for protecting young people from serious health problems with social consequences.

“Young people must understand the choices they make today can either protect or destroy their future,” she cautioned.