Kassena Nankana pupils excel in reproductive health issues.

Navrongo (U.E/R), June 26, GNA - Pupils in the two Kassena- Nankana Districts of the Upper East Region have been advised to let their knowledge in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) reflect in their lives so that they can stay in good health to pursue higher education.

Dr. Abraham Hodgson, Director of the Navrongo Health Research Centre, gave the advice in Navrongo after six pupils excelled in an ASRH quiz organized by the Centre to test their knowledge on the subject and also offer an opportunity for others to be educated on ASRH issues. He told the pupils that it was not enough to know all about sexually transmitted diseases, how to avoid getting pregnant and the need to seek medical care on time, but that the most important thing for them would be to let it all impact on their lives and on other members of their communities.

He said the Research Centre would be undertaking further studies to see how beneficial the knowledge on ASRH had been to young people who received the knowledge directly from their teachers and those who got it from their peers in the same neighbourhood.

The Research Centre for the past seven years had been undertaking feasible interventions to improve the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents in the two districts, and involved peer educators, adult mentors, the developing and teaching of ASRH curricular in schools.

Dr. Hodgson said the project had worked very closely with the Ghana Education Service, giving special training to teachers on the subject who in turn teach the pupils as part of the school curricular. They answered questions on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and Infection (STI), self esteem and assertiveness, unsafe abortion, drug abuse and Hepatitis B, among others. The Junior High School pupils answered almost all the questions within the time given and came up with 129 points for the Kassena-Nankana District, while Kassena-Nankana West had 117 points. Mr. Asam Moro, District Director of Education for Kassena- Nankana and Mr. Augustine Bugase, education Director for Kassena- Nankana West District commended the teachers for taking the subject seriously, and praised the students for doing well in the quiz. The pupils, all girls, Modesta Bagna, Sakina Wagadani, Clara Awuge, Sakina Mahama, Shahatu Majeed, and Maria Osman were given certificates and parcels for their prizes while the Kassena- Nankana District received a Plaque for best performance.