NORSAAC, a non-governmental organisation, in partnership with the Northern Regional Health Directorate, has launched a book on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) peer education for communities.

The 51-page book is to serve as a guide to peer educators and health education interventionists to do effective SRHR education to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the region.

NORSAAC used the best practices of its Innovative Sexuality Education Project (ISEP 1 and ISEP11) implemented in the Region to develop the book.

Chief Alhassan Amadu Issahaku, Regional Population Officer, who was the guest speaker during the launch of the book in Tamale, called for SRHR to be made an examinable subject at the basic school level to ensure that children better understand the issues to lead informed lives.

According to the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 14 per cent of adolescent women from 15 to 19 years are mothers or pregnant with their first child, some of who engage in unsafe abortions exposing them to STIs.

Chief Amadu Issahaku expressed unhappiness about the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy in the region and called on all to do effective sexuality education to reverse the trend.

Mr Alhassan Mohammed Awal, Executive Director of NORSAAC said NORSAAC’s ISEP project implemented in the region led to a reduction in teenage pregnancies amongst pupils at especially Karaga District and Savelugu/Nanton Municipality.

Dr Jacob Mahama, Regional Director of Health Services commended NORSAAC for its interventions to improve SRHR education in the region calling on stakeholders to scale up their efforts to help reduce teenage pregnancy and STIs amongst young people in the region.

GNA