HIV/AIDS cases increase among teens

Available information from the Tema Regional Health Directorate indicates that HIV/AIDS cases among adolescents in the area have risen from 21 cases last year to 139 this year.

The Tema Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Dr John B. K. Yabani who disclosed this during the Adolescent Health Advocacy Week celebration in Tema, also said cases of abortion among adolescents in the metropolis increased from 44 in 2016 to 64 in 2017.

He indicated that two teenage pregnancy related deaths were recorded from January to September this year while there was one case during the same period in 2016.

Mr Yabani has, therefore, called on parents and all stakeholders to strongly influence the choices of adolescents through positive role modelling, stressing that, “in a time like this when the adolescent is bombarded with a lot of issues, there is the need for them to make informed choices”.

He said although the health directorate had made gains through its programmes to improve and promote quality adolescent health services the metropolis was still challenged with teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions and HIV infection among adolescents.

Mr Yabani said records from the directorate indicated that between January and September 2016, a total of 1,078 young persons from 10-19 years had access to family planning services,  however, the figure reduced in 2017 with 740 teenagers going in for those services within that same period.