Saltpond (CR), July 14, GNA - A workshop on adolescent reproductive health for School Health Education Teachers in the Mfantseman District has ended at Saltpond.

It was organised by the District Directorate of Education with funds from the Department for International Development (DFID), a British non-governmental organisation. A total of 107 teachers attended the workshop, which was aimed at sensitising them on the problems associated with adolescent reproductive health including teenage pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

Mr Reemans Osei Bonsu, District School Health Education Programme Co-ordinator, urged the participants to "demystify" sex education. "Treating sex education as a taboo in both at home and school has caused a great harm to the youth", he said.

Mr Bonsu said many boys and girls "have perished because of lack of knowledge while some of them had became pregnant at their first "sexual practice" while others contracted sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.

He advised the School Health Education Teachers not to treat pupils suspected to be living with HIV/AIDS as an "outcast" for them to feel comfortable in their classes.

Mr Bonsu urged the teachers to assist such pupils to go for voluntary counselling and testing to know their status.