Teenage pregnancy and drug abuse rising in Bono East

By Dennis Peprah, GNA

Techiman,
(B/E), Sept. 20, GNA – Teenage pregnancy and drug abuse have been identified as
major setbacks to adolescent development in the Bono East Region.

The Nkoranza
North and Kintampo Municipalities and the Nkoranza South District of the Region
are the hardest hit.

Most of the
girls in many of the communities are out of school, living promiscuous
lifestyles, while alcoholism, drug peddling and abuse among the boys are out of
control.

The Regional
Office of the National Youth Authority (NYA) says the situation is becoming a
huge societal burden in the Region.

In an
interview with the GNA on the sidelines of a review meeting on Adolescent
Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) in Techiman, Mrs Fati Bamba, the Bono, Bono
East and Ahafo Regional Director of the NYA, said she feared this could result
in mental health problems among the youth in the Region.

Though the
NYA, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), was
embarking on campaign to prevent teenage pregnancy and drug abuse, the
situation seemed alarming, she said.

Mrs Bamba
noted that the review meeting was aimed at assessing the impact of the ASRH
project, being implemented by the NYA with support from the UNPFA.

She called on
traditional authorities, religious bodies, civil society organisations, the
police and all relevant state and non-state actors to support the advocacy
campaign to control teenage pregnancy and drug abuse in the Region.

GNA