Atwima-Mponua intensifies fight against teenage pregnancy

The Atwima-Mponua District Health Directorate has intensified its efforts at bringing down the high incidence of teenage pregnancy through carefully-coordinated and targeted reproductive health education campaign.

It has been using community information centres and the Information Services Department (ISD) to aid adolescents with everything they need to know to avoid becoming teenage mothers.

Mr George Kwadwo Kyei-Fram, the District Health Director, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that for effective coverage, the area had been zoned, based on the distribution of Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds.

He said they are being supported by the United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA) and that already more than 3,500 young people have benefitted.

They have been helped with adequate information on pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) prevention.

Reporters of the nation’s wire service had visited the district under STAR-Ghana’s sponsored media auditing and tracking of development projects, an initiative launched to put the spotlight on how government’s resources were helping to transform the lives of the people, particularly the rural population.

The goal is to aid transparency, promote accountability and good local governance.

Mr Kyei-Fram said aside the use of information centres and the ISD vans, community and school sensitization durbars had also been held in a number of communities including Ntoboroso, Bedabour, Saakrom, Akorabourkrom, Kuffuor Camp, Tanodumase, Gyereso, Nyinahin , Mpasatia, Kwanfinfi, Adobeyewura and Debra Camp.

He said there could be no doubt that the campaign would significantly help to reduce maternal deaths in the area.