Twenty (20) Adolescent Health Champions (AHC), each, working in project districts- Ashiedu Keteke, Nzema East, Bosome Freho, Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem and South Dayi were congregated in their respective districts for a 3 day refresher training on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), adolescence, puberty and other topics under the Reproductive Health Education and Services for Adolescent and Young People (RHESY) project, funded by UNFPA.
Facilitated by resource persons from Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), the refresher training educated and created awareness on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) amongst adolescents, especially their peers within their communities. It refreshed participants on how to referral their peers who had peculiar challenges to health facilities through peer networks.
The residential training gave adolescents the opportunity to learn from each other by sharing their experiences when they embarked on peer education and interactions in their communities. The sessions were divided into two sections- the first section covered topics regarding puberty and adolescent such as personal hygiene, menstruation and pregnancy, abstinence/ contraceptives/options available to adolescents, building healthy relationships, sex and gender based violence, drug and substance abuse. The second section was a skills based training and involved topics like decision making, goals & negotiation skills, facilitation skills, self-esteem and assertiveness. The topics equipped AHC with the skills needed to effectively engage with not only their peers but also community members.
Drastic measures were enforced to ensure participants observed the national safety protocols towards the prevention of covid 19; such as wearing of face masks, practicing social distancing, washing hands and using hand sanitizers frequently. AHCs were provided with face masks to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
