More than 1,500 girls have benefited from the Biology of the Girl Child Summit held at Berekum Presbyterian Senior High School in the Bono Region, with organisers calling for stronger collaboration among parents, schools, communities, and corporate institutions to bridge persistent knowledge gaps affecting the development of the girl child.

The summit, organised by the GIMAT Volunteer Network, sought to educate and empower girls to better understand their bodies, reproductive health, and personal development.

Key issues discussed included abortion and its effects, common infections among girls, cervical cancer awareness, safeguarding the girl child, and responsible conduct.

Facilitators also engaged participants on what it means to be a “classy lady", encouraging them to value themselves, understand their bodies, and carry themselves with confidence.

Summit Lead and International Coordinator of the GIMAT Volunteer Network, Fortune Morkporkpor Adalevo, said the initiative was inspired by the need to ensure girls, whether in rural or urban communities, have access to essential knowledge about their bodies.

She said the summit was designed to help girls understand biological processes such as menstruation, ovulation and pregnancy, which she believes are important to their development and decision-making.

According to Mrs Adalevo, despite advances in technology and modern education, many girls remain “naive” about issues concerning their bodies, hence creating a knowledge gap that must be addressed.

She noted that gaps also exist in the relationship between parents and children as well as between schools and students, a situation she said should change to help address issues of the girl child.

“That is why GIMAT Volunteer Network is trying so hard to fill that gap,” she said, adding that the organisation hopes to extend the programme to more regions across Ghana.

Mrs Adalevo further appealed to communities and corporate institutions to support initiatives targeted at empowering girls.

Medical doctor at Holy Family Hospital in Berekum, Dr Angel Abena Tiwaa Acheampong, also underscored the importance of equipping girls with accurate reproductive health information.

The Bono Region is said to have recorded 1,188 abortion cases among girls aged 15 to 19 between 2021 and 2024, requiring intentional education on abstinence, safe abortion, and the dangers of unsafe abortion.

Dr Tiwaa Acheampong said some girls who become pregnant sometimes resort to dangerous methods to terminate their pregnancies before seeking medical attention, often arriving at the hospital only after complications have developed.

Dr Acheampong urged girls who become pregnant to seek help from health professionals and trusted adults rather than attempting potentially life-threatening procedures.

She said proper education could help girls prevent unwanted pregnancies and make safer decisions when faced with reproductive health challenges.

For the students, the summit provided lessons that extended beyond reproductive health.

A student of Presbyterian SHS, Berekum, Ameyaa Brightina, said she had learned about infections as well as how to conduct herself around colleagues and in other settings.

Another participant, Pascaline Amofa Adoma of Methodist Senior High Technical School, said the lessons on becoming a “classy lady” were particularly valuable.

She said the summit taught participants about greetings, walking, talking, gestures, and general conduct, lessons she believes will help shape their character and behaviour in different environments.