By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh |
A United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA) official, Country Office Accra, Dr. Robert Mensah has debunked the assertion that Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) being promoted by the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, was resulting in increased sexual activities among young ones.
Dr. Mensah said CSE, a rights-based and gender-focused approach to sexuality education was not encouraging promiscuity but rather helping to equip young people with information regarding their health, well-being and dignity for a sexually healthy adulthood adding, with or without CSE, young ones would involve themselves in sexual acts.
According to him, CSE insisted on abstinence from sex among young ones while introducing responsible and safe choices so that those sexually active ones who would decide to indulge in the act, to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
The UNFPA Official who was speaking at a stakeholders meeting of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC)/UNFPA Seventh Country Programme (CP7) in Ho, underscored the importance of CSE in the UN agency’s programmes in achieving the mission of delivering a world where “every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.”
The meeting on Monday which had in attendance the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa and his Deputy, Rev. Johnson Avulete, Chief Director, Felix Chaahaah, municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs), heads of departments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the security, saw various presentations.
Focal Person, UNFPA at VRCC, Victoria Odurowa Fato who gave an elaborate overview of activities of the agency in the Volta/Oti regions mentioned Domestic Violence and Victims Support unit of the Ghana Police Service, National Youth Authority, Department of Gender and Ghana Health Service as sub implementing partners with VRCC playing supervisory role.
Ms. Fato noted that the CP6 recorded successes including equipping family planning providers with the requisite skills to address concerns of clients, reaching out to appreciable number of young people with UNFPA programmes, sensitizing stakeholders on child marriage and getting them to support the campaign against it.
She called for collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of CP7 (2018-2021) “for the benefit of the people of Volta and Oti regions.
A presentation on Reproductive Health situation in Volta/Oti regions by Charles Duodu from the Volta Regional Health Directorate indicated remarkable improvement in 1st trimester registration and antenatal care, skilled delivery, postnatal care (PNC), 1st 48 hours PNC coverage, neonatal mortality rate, infant mortality rate, under 5 mortality rate, maternal mortality rate and an improved involvement of men by end of 2018.
Regional Advisor, GIZ, John Adraki who spoke on Gender mainstreaming, outlined some activities the organisation carried out which inspired reviews at the various beneficiary assemblies in the region and called for similar training to be conducted for assembly members.
There was also a presentation by UNICEF which focused on its activities which brought about significant transformation in sanitation situations in basic schools across the region.
Chairman, Coalition of NGOs in Health, Kofi Nyalimba touched on efforts of member organisations in improving quality of health for all including those in hard to reach areas.
Mr. Nyaniba lamented the lack of funds which had stifled the coalition from carrying out continuous adolescent reproductive health programmes and planned to intensify their fund raising efforts for effective implementation of programmes.
District Chief Executive for Afadzato South, Wisdom Semanu Seneadza asked programme implementers to involve MDCEs, the political heads at the periphery tasked with the responsibility of ensuring total development of people in their areas, for success.
Mr. Seneadza said it was important for the MMDCEs to feel a sort of ownership of the programmes to actively participate for the desired impact.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com
