Agona Abodom C/R, Dec 23, GNA - Dr Sekyi-Appiah, the Agona District Director of Health Services has appealed to the youth, especially teenage girls, to refrain from risky behavior so as to help reduce HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy.

He said changing sex partners, unhealthy food, poor personal hygiene and lack of regular exercises are factors that could bring diseases. Dr Sekyi-Appiah said this at a forum organised by health workers of Agona Abodom Health Centre at Abodom.

He said there was the need for the people to visit health facilities voluntarily instead of waiting to fall sick. Dr Sekyi-Appiah expressed concern about the high rate of teenage pregnancy in the area and appealed to the chiefs and the opinion leaders to educate their girls.

Mrs. Hawa Mumuni, Midwife in-charge of Abodom Health Center, said from January to December a total of 546 cases of teenage pregnancy were recorded at the center, representing 40 percent increase. Some 766 cases of malaria were recorded in 2005 as against 511 cases received in 2006. She said the chiefs and people of Abodom have formed Grand Mum group to educate the young girls on the need to refrain from pre-marital sex to reduce teenage pregnancy. Nana Gad Asomaning, the regent of Agona Abodom, said the Grand Mum Group was doing its best to help reduce teenage pregnancy. He said the Abodom Traditional Council has instituted measures to arrest school children seen in the street at night and parents of such children would be punished to serve as a deterrent to others. 23 Dec 06