Ghana Health Service with support from the United Nations Population Fund embarked on an outreach to train the youth of Bortianor on teenage pregnancy prevention and the use of an app developed by UNFPA known as Wawa Aba. This event took place on Saturday 8th August 2020 at the Pentecost Church, Bortianor.
Wawa Aba is a web platform designed by UNFPA Ghana to provide education on the prevention of teenage pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health, family planning and STI information and services.
With the advent of the novel COVID 19 pandemics which has actually disrupted health care systems and created a sense of uncertainty and fear, the web-based application comes in handy for young people in particular who still need information and services on issues regarding their reproductive health.
Speaking at the sidelines of the event, Madam Regina Quartey a Nurse at the Bortianor Polyclinic, indicated that teenage pregnancy was becoming rampant in the community. According to her, a recent mid-year analysis of health activities in Bortianor revealed that out of 24 teenagers, 10 were pregnant. This she said “is alarming”. She attributes the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy to weak parental guidance, lack of good role models, social vices, lack of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) information among others.
Also at the outreach where all COVID-19 safety protocols were strictly adhered to, the adolescents were shown how to use the Wawa Aba web-based platform. The mapping solution serves as a compass to direct users to the nearest health facilities where they can access sexual and reproductive health information and services.”.
The Assembly Member for the Bortianor Electoral Area, Mr. Dan Bright Abayateye Upon having a feel of Wawa Aba app said it will help the youth in his community. He expressed his gratitude to Ghana Health Service and UNFPA for sharing the Wawa Aba innovation with the youth since teenage pregnancy is increasing in Bortianor.
By Esi Aniwa
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