Allow students to use contraceptives to prevent pregnancies - Midwife

A Midwife at Suntreso Government Hospital in the Ashanti Region Regina Mensah has appealed to teachers in various schools to desist from preventing students from using contraceptives.

According to her, students have the rights to use the various contraceptives on the market to protect themselves from teenage pregnancies which hinder their education.

She observed that students are subjected to physical examination by teachers upon spotting contraceptives implanted in their private parts.

A practice they have to undergo for 3-5 years before they can stop using the contraceptives or are ready to get pregnant.

‘Some of the teachers subject students to thorough inspection during gatherings when they spot Lydia contraceptives implanted on the students. It is wrong for teachers to ask students to do away with contraceptives, students also have the rights to use contraceptives, they use contraceptives to prevent pregnancies because they will not be allowed to continue their education when they get pregnant,’ she said.

Speaking to Ultimate news’ the Western Region Director for Department of Gender, Mrs. Paulina Abayagey explained that the teachers have genuine concern for inspecting students.

She admitted that students have refused to abstain from sex occasioning the advocacy by sexual health educators.

She contended that the most extreme students can be exposed to should be the condom and not implantable contraceptives.

Ghana has for some time now been battling with teenage pregnancies at the National, Regional and District levels.

Religious leaders, traditional rulers, women advocates, sexual health educators and several others have joined in the fight against teenage pregnancies.