Madam Diana Sena Awutey, a Health Promotion Officer at the Adidome Health Directorate in the Central Tongu district, has entreated adolescent girls to take key interest in their sexual and reproductive health rights.

She said understanding their rights would help them to make safe choices about their bodies and relationships and ensure they were protected against Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs), unintended pregnancies, and exploitation.

Madam Awutey said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at a programme for some selected adolescents organised by the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund at Adidome.

The programme was to provide adolescent girls and young women with knowledge and skills in sexual and reproductive health rights, allowing them to make informed decisions about their health and future careers.

Madam Awutey saidproviding adolescent girls with the necessary knowledge and skills about their sexual and reproductive health rights was critical since it resulted in improved health outcomes and reduced STIs and unwanted pregnancies.

She said the programme formed part of “open day for youth friendly services- the clinic is yours” and aimed to provide a safe and engaging atmosphere for young people to openly communicate with health practitioners about their health concerns.

Madam Ernestina Yayra Ama Addy, Registered Community Health Nurse at the Adidome Zongo Clinic, assured the participants that the clinic was ready to serve them with the best treatment possible.

She urged them to practice good personal hygiene, especially during the menstrual period, avoid prolonged pad use, and avoid inappropriate cleaning to prevent infections.

The participants were taken on a clinic tour of the Adidome Zongo Clinic, where they visited various units such as the labour ward, maternity, and family health units.

They were provided with free reproductive health counselling, sensitised on various family planning products, and shown photographs of sexually transmitted infections to help them understand how serious these infections are and how important it is for them to take care of themselves.