Unsafe abortions causing high mortality among youth

Koforidua, Aug. 28, GNA- The Eastern Regional Director of the National Population Council (NPC), Mr Kofi Abinah, has attributed the high rate of mortality among the youth to unsafe abortions, inaccessible health care delivery and lack of information on reproductive health issues.

He noted that due to parents' reluctance to talk about sex to their adolescent children and the perception of the society on abortions, the youth resorted to the use of all kinds of drugs in order to get rid of unwanted pregnancies.

Mr Abinah was making a presentation at a post-launch activity on adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights organized by the NPC at Koforidua on Wednesday.

He noted that due to the prevailing negative situation, the youth do not seek treatment at health facilities when they contract sexually transmitted diseases.

The workshop targeted the leadership and decision makers in the Muslim society to be at breast with information on sexually- transmitted diseases and reproductive issues so that they can sensitise the community.

Topics treated at the workshop included unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections (STI's).

The workshop was part of activities to commemorate the World Population Day, which celebrated every July, to highlight the high rate of the world's population and the need for family planning.

He said workshops and other seminars being organized by the NPC were to create awareness and used as a micro-strategy to seek information for the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA).

A representative from the Ministry of Education, Mr Rex Baah-Ntiri, asked the Muslim community to sacrifice for their children's education to ensure their good future.

"The days when children in Muslim communities did not get formal education and became liabilities in society should be seen as a thing of the past," he said and urged the leaders to sensitise their community to invest in their wards' education. 28 Aug. 03