Mothers urged to do more on teenage pregnancy

The Programmes Manager of the Pamela Bridgewater Project, Ms Fouzia Issaka, has called on market women to do more towards the reduction of teenage pregnancy among Kayayei in the country.

Speaking at an outreach programme organised by the Bridgewater Project at Maamobi, a suburb in Accra, Ms Issaka said Kayayei were often taken advantage of by selfish men.

“That is why I am calling on all women in the markets to engage these girls and participate in their counselling.”

She added that they should be counselled on how to handle and prevent teenage  pregnancy saying “the  Kayayei live and work at the market centres with many of them serving as foster children to mothers in the market.

I am appealing to the mothers to share with the girls the dangers of becoming pregnant on the street.”

The Commander of the Nima Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, ASP Comfort Forkah, cautioned them on their vulnerable situation and, urged them to be extra vigilant.

The Project Director for the Bridgewater Project, Mr Yahaya Alhassan, for his part, commended the National Health Insurance Scheme for registering 1,000 Kayayei in January 2018 on the occasion of the commissioning of the Kumasi-Kejetia Kayayei Centre.

He urged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to come out with inputs and ideas to address the Kayayei phenomenon.