GES challenged to consider sex and sexuality an integral part of school curricular

Dr Abdul-Razak Dokurugu (Right)

Acting Medical Director at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Dr. Abdul-Razak Dokurugu, says for the youth to be fed with accurate information on issues relating to their sexual life, sex and sexuality must be considered an integral part of the country’s educational system.

He observed that most subjects taught at the basic school levels dwell more on the theory aspect of human development but lacks the practical realities especially matters on reproductive health.

According to him, denying the youth of their right to accurate information on sex will expose them to falsified information that are detrimental to their health and socio-economic welbeing.

Dr. Dokurugu however, called for a refined comprehensive sexual education that addresses the critical health needs of the youth. This he noted will help reduce the high incidence of substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and sexually transmitted infections.

Dr. Dokurugu made the appeal at the inauguration of adolescent health clubs in for selected second cycle schools in the Upper East Region.

GBC’s Isaac Asare reports that, the inauguration of the adolescent health clubs of selected senior high schools was on the theme: “Promoting and Sustaining Adolescent Health, Healthy young people, better future: The Role of the Community”. Participating schools include Kongo Senior high and technical, Zamse Secondary Technical and the Bolgatanga Senior High School, also known as BIG BOSS.

They were schooled on the need to adapt to healthy lifestyles and explore avenues that will incite them to make informed decisions on their sexual behaviors’.

Various speakers underscored growing concerns over the opportunities and dangers associated with youth and adolescent health as the younger generation is exposed to risks and pressures that often affect their physical, emotional and psychological welbeing.

They were of the common belief that what pertains in the adolescent stage of an individual has varied repercussions on the quality of life during adulthood.

The formation of the school based adolescent clubs however presents a platform to engage critical stakeholders on adolescent health and development.

For his part, the Regional Director of the National Population Council, Alosiba Azam said, the clubs are key to offering peer education to both in and out school adolescent, stressing that the idea is to ignite the renewed global focus on adolescent health.

Some of the students who shared the knowledge acquired with Radio Ghana admitted that their parents have done very little to engage them on their sexual lifestyles.

Indeed the Ghana Demographic Survey of 2014, had proven that majority of the youth are not aware that very early initiation of sex is a predisposing factor for the development of cancer of the cervix in the future.

This is partly because most parents are reluctant and sometimes feel uncomfortable to talk to their wards about sex.

Dr. Abdul Razak Dokurugu, said parents refusal to educate their wards on sex is based on their own believes and convictions. He therefore proposed the inclusion of sex and sexuality as a mandatory subject to be considered in the school curricula.

The Regional Director of Education, Jane Obeng, called for effective strategies geared at promoting sexual reproductive health of adolescent and the youth and further charged members of the participating schools to be ambassadors of change.

She furthermore, charged the various stakeholders particularly the GES, the GHS and the National Population Council to work towards improving the existing collaboration and help identify practical ways of making adolescent health programs succeed.

GBC