Dr. Abdulai Abukari with stakeholders at Nalerigu
The North East Regional Director of Health Service, Dr. Abdulai Abukari , has called for support from stakeholders to help end teenage pregnancy in the region.
According to him, one of the major challenges facing health service delivery in the region was high rate of teenage pregnancy which stood at 14.9% as at the end of 2020. However, the region recorded a marginal reduction of teenage pregnancies of 14.7% at the end of the first quarter of 2021.
He cited socio-cultural factor such as early marriage, lack of parental support , engaging in sexual activities for economic gains , peer and social media influence among others as part of the contributing factors of teenage pregnancy cases in the region.
Dr. Abukari made this known at a shareholders meeting to discuss issues of Teenage pregnancy, Child trafficking, Kayeye, Education, and Social protection among others.
The Regional Health Director commended the Health Promotion and the Reproductive & Child Health Units adding that the region has expanded Family Planning and Comprehensive Abortion Care services towards addressing teenage pregnancy issues in the region.
He appealed to the Municipal/District Assemblies, Traditional Authorities, Parents and Guardians, Political leaders, Religious leaders, Civil Society Groups, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Gender Children & Social Protection, NGOs and all major stakeholders to support the Ghana Health Service in addressing the issue of teenage pregnancy in the North East region.
Representatives from UNICEF, UNFPA, NORSAC and the Ministry of Gender Children & Social Protection together with some selected representatives of regional departments were part of the shareholders meeting at the North East Regional Coordinating Council.
FROM Eric Kombat, Nalerigu