Use of condoms increases in Sunyani and Techiman

Sunyani, June 16, GNA - The use of condom in Sunyani and Techiman municipalities increased from 48,000 in 2005 to 165,000 in 2006. Mr Amos Adu Okyere, Brong-Ahafo Zonal Manager of Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) who announced this advocated for intensive public education on the use of condoms particularly among the youth to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

He was inaugurating a 327 million cedis Young and Wise Centre constructed by the association at Sunyani on Friday. The centre would be used for clinical services such as voluntary counselling and testing for HIV/AIDS, antenatal care for pregnant girls, pregnancy test, routine laboratory investigations, management of STDs, films on adolescent reproductive health issues and indoor games. Mr Okyere announced that PPAG had initiated a five- year project dubbed 'Big Lottery Project' to address Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) needs and rights of disadvantaged youth in the Sunyani and Techiman Municipalities.

He said the project would be implemented in 10 communities in the two municipalities under the sponsorship of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) a London-based NGO.

Mr Okyere said 20 peer educators had been trained in violence against women, teenage pregnancy, STDs and abortion.

He noted that they had educated about 19,818 youths made up of 10,633 girls and 9,185 boys in the project communities. Mr Okyere said in addition, the project was assisting 30 youths in apprentice skill training.

He expressed concern about the upsurge of unsafe abortion and rape among street children, therefore PPAG intended to organize sensitisation meetings involving traditional and religious leaders, municipal assemblies and the media to address the issue.

Mrs Elsie Ayeh, Ashanti Regional Zonal Manager of PPAG, said it was established in 1952 to educate adults on family planning but in 1999, it shifted its focus to SRH to target the youth from 10 to 24 years. She noted that PPAG was determined to ensure Ghana became a country in which the youth were well informed about SRH issues and confidently exercise their right choice of SRH services in the society. Mrs Ayeh said about 888,834 youths were educated in 2006. Awards were presented to dedicated and deserving peer educators. 16 June 07