Saltpond (C/R), Oct. 5, GNA - A twelve-member Mfantseman District Population Advisory Committee (DPAC), has been inaugurated at Saltpond. The committee is to among other functions, advise the District Assembly and other institutions, organisations and agencies on population issues in the District and ensure that population variables are integrated into the development planning at all levels. Inaugurating the committee, Mr Paul L K Djan, Central Regional Population Officer, charged members to make quality reproductive and sexual health information and services available, accessible and affordable for both men and women, especially vulnerable groups in the rural areas through community-based distribution and outreach programmes.

Mr Djan noted that quality human resource was an asset to development and appealed to churches, organisations and communities to set aside some funds to support population issues. He called for intensive sex education for the youth to prevent them from using resources for their rehabilitation and employment for sexual activities.

Mr Yaw Adu Asamoah, District Co-ordinating Director, said the District with a population of about 152,000 was plagued with population issues such as unemployment, teenage pregnancies, a high school dropout rate and widespread socio-cultural problems, which placed an unduly high premium on large families.

He urged the committee to assist the assembly in addressing gender issues.