Story by: Doreen Ampofo
About 200,000 youth and women in the Northern and Upper East regions have benefited from a sexual and reproductive health rights empowerment project. The Youth for Health project, implemented by Marie Stopes International, has led to the prevention of 8,000 unintended pregnancies while improving maternal mortality in the two regions. Northern Ghana faces high adolescent pregnancy, with 10.9% of 15–19-year-olds getting pregnant. The Northern and Upper East regions also face low contraceptive use and, in some areas, significant, persistent child marriage, driven by cultural norms and stigma.
The Youth for Health project, funded by the European Union and implemented by MSI and partners, aimed to expand access to life-changing adolescent SRH services in Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia. Launched in May 2023, the three-year project worked in 11 districts across the Northern and Upper East Regions to improve demand for and access to non-discriminatory SRHR information and services for young people.
Youth for Health, among other things, built the capacity of 240 healthcare providers, revamped and equipped 26 adolescent corners, built the capacity of over 174 teachers, and supported health facilities with equipment. At a closeout session, where key outcomes of the three-year project were shared, it was revealed that stigma, fear of judgement and cultural practices continue to hinder access to sexual and reproductive health services by the youth.
Programmes Manager at Marie Stopes International Ghana, Abukari Abdul Mumin, expressed confidence in the sustainability of the project’s gains, stressing that strong partnerships with the Ghana Health Service and Ghana Education Service would ensure continuity.
“The project has ended, but the knowledge, systems, and capacities built will remain. Sustainability is not in danger because we have empowered those who work daily with young people to continue this work,” he said.
According to Mr Abdul Mumin, the project contributed to a significant reduction in teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections in the implementing districts, including Talensi, a trend reflected in data from the Ghana Health Service.
The project also supported the establishment of adolescent-friendly corners in health facilities, staffed by trained focal persons with youth-friendly attitudes, creating safe and welcoming spaces for young people.
On challenges, he noted deeply entrenched social norms, myths, and perceptions around sexuality and menstruation, which initially hindered open discussions. However, Mr Abdul Mumin said continuous community engagement dialogues helped to debunk misconceptions and gradually shift attitudes.
The project was designed around three key objectives: creating demand for reproductive health services, providing quality services, and influencing policies to create an enabling environment for young people. A beneficiary, Seraphina Atanga, thanked MSI and its partners for the project. She highlighted challenges youth in the Upper East face when accessing sexual and reproductive services.
“Many of us are too afraid to go to the clinic due to stigma and shame. Some health workers sometimes make unfriendly remarks, making adolescents feel embarrassed and unwelcome. Also, the stigma associated with premarital sex and contraception is profound, with young women fearing being labeled as having ‘loose morals’ for seeking services,” she noted.
According to Seraphina, the project has sensitized them to the fact that when young people are heard, informed, and supported, the cycle of risk can be broken, allowing them to claim their right to health and a future of their own choosing.
The closeout ceremony brought together youth, community members, as well as stakeholders in the health and education sectors, to reflect and strategize on how to sustain and scale up the impact of Youth for Health beyond the funding period.
