Upper West records 3,474 teenage pregnancies in 2016

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  The menace of teenage pregnancy i am sorry can never be solved in Sissala East using punitive by-laws alone against adult males when existing socio-cultural dynamics certainly won't permit that.Scientific analysis of lapses i ...
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  The menace of teenage pregnancy i am sorry can never be solved in Sissala East using punitive by-laws alone against adult males when existing socio-cultural dynamics certainly won't permit that.Scientific analysis of lapses in existing health system that promote teenage pregnancy and innovative thinking is what is required.One of the ways is to find out why teenage pregnancy is rampant in some localities than others.For instance problem solving requires problem question as to why teenage pregnancy is high in tumu central township than some remote areas of the district.It is most unfortunate that the District Assembly together with perennial rubber stump characters as MPs have never taken the health needs of the people serious.If that was the case, it would have been very easy for the District Assembly Common Fund,MP common Fund to be injected in the area of elaborate health education and health promotion in multi-sectoral approach in lieu of the fact that we have so many NGOs in Sissala East already involved in health education and some form of social interventions.There have been series of programs in the district involving promotion of Girl Child Education.It is therefore unusual to find rising prevalence of teenage pregnancy because that is one major way the menace can be controlled.Girl Child Education and enforcement of gender rights can substantially deal with the problem of poverty,ignorance ,primitive religious and cultural practices that promote teenage pregnancy.Anecdotal evidence in central tumu township points to the fact that unscrupulous mothers encourage teen daughters to flirt other than peer group influence.It is also observed that under age drinking in bars and nightclubs together with use of illicit substances not only increase sexual libido but expose teenage girls to lustful,morally weak adult men other than colleague males.Another major contributory factor is politicians taking advantage teen girls during political campaigns that expose vulnerable ones to early adult life and sexual encounters.That apart what is the District Health Directorate doing about cross body activities that encourage sexual promiscuity and prostitution?There is a huge sex trade industry,a major component of human tracking across the borders of West Africa that is even affecting inland cities like Bolgatanga and Tamale.What is the District Health Directorate doing about that?There should be close collaboration for instance with chiefs,opinion and religious leaders to discourage early child marriages other than the GES to promote girl enrollment into schools and enforce reproductive health care including family planning as part of educational curriculum.Cash Transfer and Training in vocational skills may not be a bad idea in empowering teen girls financially and economically without the benefit of formal education since poverty is a major limiting factor.Punitive measures against unscrupulous adult males using DOVVSU and the social welfare maybe good but can never work in isolation.Direct intervention such as family planning services including contraceptive use should be targeted at high risk groups.In this context,abortion care should not just be safe but comprehensive particularly for at high risk groups.The Regional Health Directorate should adopt a radical approach in banning the sale of abortifacients like cytotec as Over The Counter Drug including use of herbal products and institute punitive measures against anybody found to be conniving or coercing unsafe or criminal abortion including teenagers in a concerted fashion using formal bye-laws, all stakeholders in leadership including opinion,chiefs and religious leaders.

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