News
To reduce teenage pregnancy: Wa Youth Parliament supports girls to acquire vocational skills
● Some of the girls making beads
As part of efforts to promote adolescent reproductive health among females in the Wa East District, the Upper West Regional Youth Parliament has provided vocational skills in beads making to 31 teenage girls at Funsi as income generation venture for their upkeep.
The training which was sponsored by Plan International, Ghana, was in line with the quest of the Youth Parliament to empower adolescent girls and provide them with a source of income that would enable them purchase basic items such as sanitary pads during menstruation and stop depending on men.
Speaking to The Spectator Newspaper during the training, the Speaker of the Youth Parliament, Mr James Anabiga said the training was one of the interventions proposed to help teenage girls in the area meet their reproductive health needs as recommended in a study that was launched into adolescent and reproductive health issues by the Youth Parliament last year.
Titled “Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in the Wa East District of the Upper West Region: A Synthesis of Research Evidence”: the study revealed that teenage pregnancy was high in the district because many girls depended on men for sanitary pads in exchange for sex whereas others who did not, relied on rags which got them stained frequently and prevented them from going to school during menstruation.
Mr Anabiga said the study proposed that aside supporting the girls with sanitary products, there was the need to empower them financially to meet those obligations without relying on men.
The Speaker noted that the training which was carried out by resource persons from Halu Memorial Fashion College was one of the ways to empower the girls to produce beaded items such as necklace, earrings, bracelets and waist beads for sale.
He said that as part of the interventions, some of the girls earlier received menstrual cups sponsored by ‘Could You?’, a nongovernmental Organisation in the United States of America and indicated that one cup could be used for up to 10 years before it was discarded hence would support beneficiaries till they were adults and financially capable to buy more.
“We also had separate meetings with stakeholders such as the Member of Parliament, Mr Godfred Jasaw, District Chief Executive, Dr Suleman Kandi and traditional rulers on how to handle the research findings which projected that teenage pregnancies were high in the district because boys supported girls with their sanitary needs and requested for sex in return”, he said.
He said all the interventions were aimed at reducing to the barest minimum issues around adolescent reproductive health such as teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.
Mr Anabiga said that 10 of the trainees would be given start-up materials to enable them set up mini businesses and produce more beaded items for sale for income generation and encouraged them to put the skill to good use to ensure that they were able to train others in the trade.
A beneficiary, Bawa Amina who spoke on behalf of her colleagues commended the youth parliament for the intervention, which according to her, would serve as a source of livelihood for them.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjou
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome Kwabenya Constituency, Elikplim Akurugu, has donated assorted hampers and cash support to mothers at Taifa Polyclinic and Ga East Municipal Hospital as part of activities marking this year’s Mother’s Day celebration.
The donation, which targeted nursing and lactating mothers at the two health facilities, included assorted hampers and an amount of GH¢500 presented to the women in appreciation of their sacrifices, commitment to motherhood and contribution to nurturing children in society.
Interacting with the mothers during the visit, MP Akurugu commended them for their resilience and dedication to their families despite the challenges associated with motherhood.
She encouraged the women to continue showing love, care and discipline in raising their children to become responsible members of society.
The MP also urged expectant and nursing mothers to prioritise regular health checkups and adhere to medical advice to ensure the wellbeing of both mothers and their babies.
According to her, mothers play a vital role in national development and therefore deserve recognition and support for their efforts.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Member of Parliament for the gesture, describing it as timely and thoughtful as the world celebrates mothers.
Health officials including some of the nurses at the facilities commended the MP for the initiative and called for continuous support towards maternal and child healthcare in the constituency.
During the visit to the Ga East Municipal Hospital, Madam Akurugu appealed to the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, and the contractor working on the Ga East Hospital road to expedite work on the stretch due to its deteriorating condition.
According to the MP, the poor state of the road has become a major concern for residents and motorists, contributing to frequent accidents and in some cases loss of lives before patients are even able to access medical treatment at the hospital.
In an emotional appeal, Madam Akurugu knelt and pleaded with the roads minister to treat the road project as an emergency to help protect lives and ease transportation challenges for residents and patients who use the facility.
She called for immediate intervention to ensure the road is completed and made safe for public use.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome Kwabenya Constituency, Elikplim Akurugu, has come to the aid of a constituent identified as Bintu at Dome Pentecost after a severe leg condition nearly claimed her life.
According to the MP, news of Bintu’s deteriorating condition was brought to her attention after reports emerged that one of her legs had badly rotten, leaving her in critical condition and in urgent need of medical care.
Madam Akurugu immediately intervened and facilitated her admission to the Ga East Municipal Hospital where doctors began treatment to save her life.
Following medical examination and treatment, doctors reportedly advised that the affected leg had to be amputated to prevent further complications and save her life, a decision the MP supported after consultations with the medical team.
The surgery was subsequently carried out successfully, leading to an improvement in Bintu’s condition.
Speaking during a visit to Bintu’s residence, Madam Akurugu revealed that beyond paying her hospital bills and ensuring she received proper medical attention, she had also taken steps to improve her living conditions.
According to the MP, Bintu had been living in a deteriorated and partially collapsed structure at Dome, making life extremely difficult and unsafe for her recovery.
As part of the intervention, the MP fully renovated the house and upgraded it to a modern living standard.
The renovation included furnishing the home and providing essential facilities such as a bathroom, toilet and other household necessities to ensure Bintu could live comfortably and with dignity.
Madam Akurugu also donated foodstuff and an undisclosed amount of cash to support Bintu’s upkeep and recovery process.
The MP further pledged to continue supporting Bintu throughout her lifetime, stressing that vulnerable persons within the constituency deserved care, compassion and dignity.
As part of activities marking this year’s Mother’s Day celebration, Madam Akurugu surprised Bintu with the newly renovated home after she was discharged from the hospital, describing the gesture as a way of giving her a fresh start in life following her recovery.
She noted that the intervention formed part of her commitment to improving the welfare of constituents facing hardship and medical challenges.
Residents and some community members who witnessed the gesture commended the MP for the support and described the intervention as life changing for the beneficiary.
By: Jacob Aggrey Dome Kwabenya MP pays hospital bills of constituent on the verge of death; renovates her home to modern standard
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome Kwabenya Constituency, Elikplim Akurugu, has come to the aid of a constituent identified as Bintu at Dome Pentecost after a severe leg condition nearly claimed her life.
According to the MP, news of Bintu’s deteriorating condition was brought to her attention after reports emerged that one of her legs had badly rotten, leaving her in critical condition and in urgent need of medical care.
Madam Akurugu immediately intervened and facilitated her admission to the Ga East Municipal Hospital where doctors began treatment to save her life.
Following medical examination and treatment, doctors reportedly advised that the affected leg had to be amputated to prevent further complications and save her life, a decision the MP supported after consultations with the medical team.
The surgery was subsequently carried out successfully, leading to an improvement in Bintu’s condition.
Speaking during a visit to Bintu’s residence, Madam Akurugu revealed that beyond paying her hospital bills and ensuring she received proper medical attention, she had also taken steps to improve her living conditions.
According to the MP, Bintu had been living in a deteriorated and partially collapsed structure at Dome, making life extremely difficult and unsafe for her recovery.
As part of the intervention, the MP fully renovated the house and upgraded it to a modern living standard.
The renovation included furnishing the home and providing essential facilities such as a bathroom, toilet and other household necessities to ensure Bintu could live comfortably and with dignity.
Madam Akurugu also donated foodstuff and an undisclosed amount of cash to support Bintu’s upkeep and recovery process.
The MP further pledged to continue supporting Bintu throughout her lifetime, stressing that vulnerable persons within the constituency deserved care, compassion and dignity.
As part of activities marking this year’s Mother’s Day celebration, Madam Akurugu surprised Bintu with the newly renovated home after she was discharged from the hospital, describing the gesture as a way of giving her a fresh start in life following her recovery.
She noted that the intervention formed part of her commitment to improving the welfare of constituents facing hardship and medical challenges.
Residents and some community members who witnessed the gesture commended the MP for the support and described the intervention as life changing for the beneficiary.
By: Jacob Aggrey
