By Antoinette Abbah
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has renewed its commitment to empowering vulnerable adolescents in Ghana through improved healthcare and skills development programmes.
The Regional Director of UNFPA for West and Central Africa, Dr. Sennen Hounton, said during a visit to Ussher Hospital in James Town, Accra, that investing in vulnerable adolescents is critical to improving their health, education and future economic opportunities.
He pledged UNFPA’s continued support to expand access to adolescent-friendly healthcare services, vocational training and employable skills to enable young people to reach their full potential.
Dr. Hounton observed practical training sessions and commended the hospital for combining healthcare services with skills development, describing the approach as a model of holistic adolescent care. He said the initiative goes beyond treating illnesses, as it helps restore dignity and creates opportunities for young people to become self-reliant.
“The support we provide is not only about healthcare but also about creating opportunities for these young people to realise their potential,” Dr. Hounton said, assuring the facility of UNFPA’s continued partnership.
The Medical Superintendent of Ussher Hospital, Dr. Philomena Bonsu, said the partnership with UNFPA has played a critical role in strengthening adolescent health services at the facility.
She explained that between 2014 and 2026, the Special Adolescent and Family Planning Unit provided healthcare services to 14,532 adolescent girls, boys and young women. Of this number, 73.4 per cent were in school, while 26.6 per cent were out of school. About 7.5 per cent enrolled in vocational apprenticeship programmes to acquire skills for economic independence.
Dr. Bonsu said UNFPA has supported the enrolment of about 30 vulnerable adolescents in vocational training programmes, including dressmaking, with about 10 completing the programme.
She, however, appealed for further support to expand the initiative, including more space for the unit, furniture and additional vocational courses such as hairdressing to benefit more young people. She noted that the partnership has helped strengthen the hospital’s specialised Adolescent Health Unit and improved access to adolescent-friendly health services.
Dr. Hounton is in Ghana for a five-day official visit, during which he is expected to engage government officials and participate in the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra.
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