Pharmacists' behaviour disincentive to patronage of Condoms

Pharmacists and chemical store attendants have been accused of hindering the patronage of condoms and other contraceptives, which do not promote the fight against HIV/AIDS.

"The strange look of most pharmacists and chemical store attendants towards people who call to purchase condoms is a disincentive to its patronage," participants at a seminar on family law for students of the Ghana School of Law have observed.

They stated this on Wednesday at seminar attended by about 160 Family Law Students was to sensitise them on "The Legal And Policy Framework For Adolescent Reproductive Rights in Ghana. It was organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in collaboration with the African Youth Alliance (AYA) both international non-governmental organisations.

The students called for the orientation of all health providers including Pharmacist and Chemical Store attendants to be more receptive towards people who wanted to buy condoms.

In an address read on behalf of Mr Moses Mukasa, UNFPA Resident Representative in Ghana, he disclosed that girls aged between 10 to 19 years formed 25.8 per cent of persons living with AIDS in the country.

He also noted that half of all new HIV infections in Africa affected young people under 25 years, which "is disheartening and until we are able to get everyone to respond positively to this imminent danger the future of the continent would be thrown into chaos".

Mr Mukasa blamed the situation on lack of inadequate knowledge about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), low perception of personal risks and the high levels of unsafe sex. He noted that this suggested that adolescents were most at the risk of contracting STIs including HIV/AIDS since they were not adequately prepared to protect themselves neither were they well prepared to face the consequences.

He said with the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and reproductive health risks including unsafe abortion, maternal mortality and sexual violence, young people faced unprecedented threats that reduced their opportunities for personal development and participation in national development.

The UNFPA Resident Representative called for a comprehensive adolescent reproductive health programme to avert early marriages, childbearing and irresponsible sexual behaviour. Mrs Chris Dadzie, FIDA President expressed concern about the inadequate sensitisation on the existing legal and policy framework for implementing adolescent sexual and reproductive health programmes.

She called for a policy framework and laws on adolescent rights to provide an enabling environment for adolescents to be able to have access to reproductive health services to promote their reproductive rights.

Mrs Dadzie suggested the inclusion of international, regional and national framework for adolescent reproductive rights to be included in the curriculum of the school. As an emerging human rights issue, the FIDA President said "it is very important that lawyers and law students are made aware of the prevailing legal framework that exists to protect adolescents in Ghana, especially where they are particularly vulnerable".

The seminar, which was chaired by Mr Ansa Asare, Director of the Ghana Law School, was aimed at educating the final year family law students and to provide them with literature on the legal and policy framework on adolescent sexual and reproductive health laws in Ghana. It also aimed at equipping the students with legal knowledge to protect, fulfil and promote the rights of adolescents in private practice, as solicitors and human rights activities.