Obuasi, Aug 26, GNA - Mr Edward Osei, the Ghana AIDS Commission Focal Person for the Obuasi Municipality, called for intensification in adolescent reproductive health education to assist young people improve upon their health status.

He noted that teenagers engaged in early sex resulting in unplanned pregnancies, abortions, maternal deaths and infections of HIV/AIDS and sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

This was contained in a speech read for Mr Osei at a forum on reproductive health, organised by Youth Care Africa (YOCAF), an Obuasi-based Christian non-governmental organisation (NGO), under the theme: "Reproductive Health Rights And Healthy Responsible Lifestyle" for over 60 apprentice artisans at Obuasi on Thursday.

He observed that most adolescents were ignorant about the nature, causes and consequences of reproductive health problems that affected them and commended the NGO for organising such a programme to educate the youth, who are vulnerable to STDs on reproductive health.

Mr Osei appealed to parents to educate their children on reproductive health and not to consider discussions on such topics as a taboo.

Mr Emmanuel Mensah, the Municipal School Health Programme (SHEP) Co-ordinator, warned the youth against premarital sex to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Mr Samuel Kelvin Ackon, YOCAF Field Officer, urged the participants to help improve adolescent reproductive health by impacting the knowledge they would acquire at the forum to their peers. 26 Aug 04