NGO holds summit for over 800 female students in Bia West

The GIMAT Volunteer Network, non-governmental organisation (NGO), in partnership with the Western North Regional National Youth Authority (NYA), has organised a day’s summit for over 800 female students in the Bia West District.

Dubbed: “Biology of the Girl Child Summit”, the summit was held under the theme: “Educate, Empower, Elevate: A summit for the modern Ghanaian Girl.”

It was aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and skills for informed decision-making on reproductive rights and health and empower them to assertively take charge of their future by avoiding negative relationships and promoting mental health wellbeing.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the event, Madam Fortune Morkporkpor Adalevo, Summit Lead and International Coordinator for GIMAT Volunteer Network, said they realised that most young girls had low confidence levels and inadequate knowledge on matters relating to their sexual and reproductive health rights.

According to her, a survey conducted by the organisation suggested that not only boys abused drugs, but also girls, hence the idea of bringing together experts to educate them on the effects of these behaviours.

She noted that the NGO had collaborated with the Essam Government Hospital to establish a unit at the hospital to attend to participants’ health needs.

She advised young girls to be firm in their decision-making, saying; “Their no should be no, and always concentrate on their studies.”

Mr Alhassan Mohammed Adama, Western North Regional Director of the NYA, lauded the GIMAT for the summit, noting that it would empower young girls to be able to make informed choices about their lives, health, and wellbeing.

He indicated that the Authority had been working tirelessly to promote girls’ education by providing mentorship, scholarship, and skills training programmes to support their development.

The Regional Director urged the participants to take charge of their lives and asked them to mentor other girls from their various communities who could not attend the summit.

He also called on stakeholders to make efforts to educate, empower, and elevate young girls to become confident, resilient, and successful women who would shape the future of the country.

Mr Adama pledged that his office would continue to collaborate with GIMAT Volunteer Network to help empower young girls in the area.

Some of the participants in an interview with the GNA lauded the initiative and said it would boost their confidence level and expose them to making the right choices on their sexual and reproductive health rights. -GNA

Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27