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‘Negative attitude of hospital staff affecting Adolescent Reproductive Healthcare’
The attitude of some health staff at adolescent corners at some health centres in the Upper West Region has been identified as one of the barriers preventing adolescent girls from seeking information on reproductive health at the health centres.
The adolescents have said that they would rather speak to their peers than patronise adolescent corners to avoid jeering, insults and name calling from health workers.
This was revealed in a study by Necessary Aid Alliance, a non-governmental organisation in the Upper West Region with support from Plan International Ghana on “Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Information and Services (SRHIS)” by adolescents.
Explaining the research findings to participants at a dissemination meeting at Wa, the Executive Director of the NGO, Mr Mulumba Songsore said the issue was a source of worry as 36 per cent of a total of 541 respondents attested to seeking for information from their peers as against 20 per cent who preferred to use the health centres and adolescent corners.
“According to our respondents, some of the nurses are impolite, especially to young clients. Apparently when they go there with issues on reproductive health, they are yelled at, insulted and called names like nasty and ‘spoilt’ and are discouraged from going there”, he said.
Mr Songsore indicated that even without the impolite attitude of health staff, it was difficult for a young person to visit a facility to seek SRHIS so if the environment was not conducive, they would choose to rather rely on friends who were as ignorant as them and were likely to provide them with unwholesome information.
“We were curious as researchers to know what exactly they discussed with their friends by way of information seeking and we identified that most of the discussion (36 per cent) centred on sex life and relationship” he said adding that it was worrying because most of their peers would share information about their mistakes.
He said the lack of professional sources of information for the adolescents had led to unprotected sex, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
“Allow me to quote this response from a respondent: in this community, adolescents who inquire about sexual and reproductive matters are viewed as troublemakers so we are scared to go to the clinic for SRHIS”, he said.
He added that the lack of privacy and confidentiality at the health centres also discouraged the youth from seeking information at the centres such that once the adolescent visited the health facility, it became common knowledge in the community.
“Imagine a girl going to the hospital for medical abortion and the next moment everyone in the community is aware of the incident and people begin to call her names, in order to avoid a similar incident, other girls would prefer to speak to their friends for unorthodox methods instead of going to the health centre”, he said
The NGO wants civil society organsiations to support the Ghana Health Service to provide regular training for health staff at the various adolescent corners to ensure their professional conduct.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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Prophet Courage Heavens set to launch ‘Predestination’ book on March 23
Prophet Courage A. Heavens is set to launch the much-awaited book titled ‘Predestination’ on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 5:00PM.
The launch, which is expected to impact lives, will take place at Crossgates Ministries, Flattop, off N1 Highway, opposite Angel Hauz.
The book is aimed at addressing the way people struggle to understand how free will and destiny align.
It is also aimed at providing clarity on God’s sovereignty and one’s place in His divine plan.
The various chapters of the book address various issues through scriptures and personal stories.
Committed to impacting society, part of the proceeds from the book will go into Courage Heavens Education Legacy (CHEL), an educational foundation transforming lives.
CHEL is dedicated to providing financial support and mentorship to brilliant but needy students, ensuring they have access to quality education and opportunities for a better future.
Prophet Courage Heavens is a prolific writer and previously authored Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani, a powerful book that encourages unwavering faith in times of trials.
In addition, he has written seven more prophetic and life-changing books that are yet to be published.
He is dedicated to raising the next generation for impactful ministry. As the leader of Crossgates Ministries, he nurtures believers in faith and purpose.
