Need to introduce reproductive health as a subject in schools

Accra, April 14, GNA - Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) Minister for Health, on Saturday said introduction of reproductive health as a subject in the educational curriculum would be a key solution to teenage pregnancy and other human reproductive health related problems. He noted that ignorance had been identified as a major reason for most of the reproductive health related problems encountered by people. Major Quashigah was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport, after attending the Third Ordinary Meeting of African Union Health Ministers in South Africa from April 9-13.

The meeting discussed disease management, quality of health services, supply of drugs to health facilities and the introduction of traditional medicine into the formal health sector.

He said there was the need for organisations such as National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) to take up the task of educating the illiterate youth on reproductive health.

Major Quashigah noted that most young girls were involved in teenage pregnancy because they were not educated on reproductive health. He said the meeting came up with a strategic document to be adopted on the issues discussed and each country was expected to develop its own strategies and solutions.

Major Quashigah said the solutions and strategies adopted were to be shared among member countries in order to come up with effective solutions in health care delivery for the continent. He said there was the need to blend traditional medicine practice with modern medicine to make health care delivery cheaper. "The successful implementation of the recommendations at the meeting were crucial to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Major Quashigah was accompanied by Professor Fred T. Sai, Presidential Advisor on Population and HIV/AIDS, Dr George Kwadwo Amofa, Director of Public Health of the Ghana Health Service and Dr Frank Nyanator, Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Education at the Ghana Health Service.