The Implementation Of The Adolescent Pregnancy Strategy

June 23, 2022 8:25 pm

The Department of Gender under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), has held the first Bi-Annual meeting on the Implementation of the Adolescent Pregnancy Strategy today, 23rd June 2022, in Accra.

The purpose of the meeting was to review the track progress on the implementation of the Adolescent Pregnancy Strategy that was developed by MoGCSP together with other stakeholders.

It also seeks to engage stakeholders in addressing sexual reproductive health issues confronting adolescent particularly the girl child in ensuring that girls stay away from unwanted pregnancies and stay in school to complete their education.

In a statement read on behalf of the Chief Director for MoGCSP, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, the Director for the Department of Gender, Madam Faustina Acheampong, said government through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the Ministries of Health, Education and other relevant stakeholders have developed a 5-year strategic plan to address adolescent pregnancies in Ghana.

She pointed out that the vulnerability of girls to unplanned pregnancies and reproductive health challenges, hence collaboration and concerted efforts of the government and stakeholders to safeguard the wellbeing of the girls.

 Madam Acheampong pledged on the ministry’s commitment to coordinate gender-related issues by working hand in hand with all stakeholders to provide adolescents with the right information, knowledge, skills and adolescent-friendly services.

“This will help prevent unplanned pregnancies, empower girls to make informed decisions, expand their skills and knowledge to pursue their future dreams,” she added.

The Director for the Department of Gender commended participants for their immense support and deliberations to track the progress on the Implementation on the Adolescent Pregnancy Strategy.

The Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Madam Selina Owusu, on her part intimated that the UNFPA is pleased in partnering with MoGCSP to track the implementation of the Five-Year Strategic Plan to address Adolescent Pregnancies.

“We want our adolescent girls to thrive and transform which is our overarching goal for this stakeholder’s meeting aimed at tracking, assessing and realigning interventions and coordination as outlined in the  strategic operational frame work; we need to increase momentum interventions and provide the needed integrated services to achieve this objective,” she stated.

She reaffirmed the UNFPA’s support to the Government and the Ministry’s effort at empowering the adolescent girls.

Professor Stephen Owusu Kwankye with the Research Institute for Population Studies and a lead consultant for the project advised stakeholders and parents to educate the girls on the dangers of sexual activities which will help them prevent teenage pregnancies.

Present at the meeting were the Director for the Department of Gender, Madam Faustina Acheampong, the Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Madam Selina Owusu, the Consultant for the project, Professor Stephen Owusu Kwankye.

Other stakeholders include; Ghana Health Service (GHS), CHRAJ, Marie Stopes Ghana, National Youth Authority, Ghana Education Service, DOVVSU, Action Aid, UNFPA, Youth Harvest Foundation, Divine Mother and Child Foundation, UERCC, Alliance for Reproductive Health, and Rights, Savannah Signatures, Life Again, Community Development Alliance and the Queen Mother of Sokpoa Traditional Area Mamaga Adzesu II.

Source: MoGCSP