‘Children who patronise sexual reproductive centres not spoilt’
Some children who attended a Youth Advocacy Assembly at Apam in the Central Region have appealed to health services providers to stop branding children who patronise sexual reproductive centres and services as "spoilt" people.
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They rather asked them to make these centres more youth friendly to help the youth make informed choices on reproductive health issues and also called for closer supervision from parents and guardians for all children to help address problems confronting them.
Advocacy assembly
The Youth Health Advocacy Assembly sitting was organised for children in the Gomoa West District last Tuesday to discuss issues affecting their well-being.
It was part of a series of workshops and programmes being organised by the National Youth Authority with support from the Central Regional Coordinating Council and funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to promote sexual reproductive health practices among the youth.
It was also to allow the youth to discuss issues affecting them and to bring such issues before relevant authorities for redress.
Youth confused
In an interview, some members of the youth assembly said some children were living under stress because they were confused by peers who often led them to adopt irresponsible sexual behaviours.
The Central Regional Focal Person of the UNFPA at the Central Regional Coordinating Council, Mr Allan Paintsil, said the programme had supported many more of the youth to go through higher education and to improve their lives through making responsible and informed choices.
He called on the communities to support the youth to go through education and live more responsible and healthy sexual lives.
Mr Sam Fletcher, who represented the District Chief Executive, called on parents to work harder at ensuring that the problem of teenage pregnancy was addressed.
He called on the community to adopt healthy sanitation practices to help reduce flooding in the community.