Health insurance must cover family planning services – NGO

Global Media Foundation, a human rights advocacy NGO, is pushing for the inclusion of family planning among the range of services covered by National Insurance Health Scheme (NHIS).

Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Chief Executive Officer, said this was vital to efforts aimed at tackling teenage pregnancy and reducing maternal deaths.

He was speaking at a community sensitization forum on reproductive health held at Busuama in the Kintampo North Municipality.

He expressed concern about the low patronage of family planning services, especially among sexually-active young men and women.

The forum was organized by the NGO under its “Safe Abortion Project” -Advocating for young people’s access to safe abortion and contraceptive use.

This is being implemented in the Brong-Ahafo Region with support from the Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF).

Mr. Ahenu attributed the rapid growth of the nation’s population, the surge in teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortion to low patronage in family planning services.

He called for an intensification of health education to discourage the youth from reckless sexual behavior.