Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) and Islamic Senior High Schools were crowned winners of the first ever inter-schools sexual and reproductive health and rights debate and quiz competition in Tamale.
The event, which started with ten second cycle institutions within the metropolis, is a move by Marie Stopes International Ghana to improve adolescent health indicators such as teenage pregnancy rates and sexually transmitted infections in the region by providing comprehensive sexuality information to students.
It started a month ago with the ten schools competing among themselves to be the best, by addressing issues about sexual and reproductive health rights, teenage pregnancy as well as abortion. The keenly contested competition saw GHANASCO emerge winner in the debate category and Islamic Senior high school a winner in the quiz category.
The programme was organized by Marie Stopes International under the ‘Let’s Talk Project’ in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, the National Population Council and other key stake holders, with the aim of stimulating healthy discussions on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights among students.
Marie Stopes is an international organization that deals with sexual and reproductive health as it pertains to the youth who form about 30 percent of the country’s population as their main target.
Speaking to Zaa News, the regional manager-Northern sector for Marie Stopes International Ghana, Ms. Patricia Antwi-Boasiako called on parents to help their girls know about their sexual health. She encouraged the youth, especially girls, to discuss their sexual reproductive health issues with teachers they trust.
Girls can also visit the Marie Stopes office for assistance or call a toll free number 080080208585. Some of the students also shared their excitement with Zaa news and thanked Marie Stopes International for throwing light into their lives. They said most of them did not know about their sexual rights but through the training, they have been able to learned and know all about their sexual life. Meanwhile, all the ten schools were presented with learning materials and certificates, but the winning schools were presented with cheques, wall clocks, and citations.
BY:LILIAN D. WALTER
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