By Samuel Ayammah.
Mental health disability rights advocacy organization, Basic Needs Ghana, has called for respect for the sexual and reproductive rights of persons with mental health disabilities. It says, just like everyone else, persons with mental health challenges also have the right to marry and raise their own families. The organization has therefore condemned families that discourage persons with mental health problems from marrying or subject them to family planning methods against their will. This came to light at a meeting organized by Basic Needs Ghana for members of the Upper East Alliance for Mental Health and Development in Bolgatanga. The meeting was held under a project dubbed: “Building strong movement for enhanced inclusive sexual and reproductive health rights and information for vulnerable people affected by mental health disorders in Ghana” with funding from Amplify Change.
The project is a 24-month Programme being funded by the Amplify Change Fund under the network grant. This project is to enable the ‘Mental Health Alliance’ to strengthen its ranks and capacities to contribute towards enhancing inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information and services for poor and vulnerable persons living with mental illness in Ghana.
According to Basic Needs Ghana, the move will promote increased sexual knowledge, maximization of options for family planning, decreased Sexually Transmitted Infections, pregnancies and stigma, as well as general behavioral and attitudinal change towards SRHR education and initiatives in Ghana.
In an interview with GBC News, the Upper East Regional Coordinator for Mental Health, Edem Quashie Ameglah, lauded Basic Needs Ghana and its partners for the initiative and pledged their readiness to support the implementation of the project.
Focal Person for Mental Health in the Bongo District, Prince Kofi Yeboah, expressed worry over the high level of mental illness among the youth in the area.
The Programme officer for Basic Needs Ghana in the Upper East Region, Bernard Azure, said the project which will last for two years, is aimed at building a strong movement for NGOs and Civil Society Organizations to advocate better mental health and sexual and reproductive services.
The project is presently being implemented in the Northern, Greater Accra and the Upper East and West Regions by Basic Needs and its partners.