Teenage pregnancy continues to be a major issue for programmers working to improve on maternal care in the country. Indeed, it is on record that teenage births form about 40 percent of the total births in the country. Furthermore, many teenage pregnancies end up in unsafe abortions, leading to complications and deaths. Aside being noted for its high maternal deaths, the Central Region of Ghana also has high a teenage pregnancy rate, a factor that contributes to its high maternal death rate. Hence, in its bid to reduce maternal mortality in the region, the health directorate is partnering with the European Commission (EC) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to implement a project "towards strengthening community-based Reproductive Health Services" in the region. One essential component of the project is to reduce the level of teenage pregnancies in the region. To achieve this, the region has started a pilot programme under which teenage girls are linked with influential women in the communities to mentor and guide them on the decisions they make regarding their sexual lives in their teenage years. Presently the project is being implemented in seven communities in six districts. The districts are Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam, Agona, Abura Asebu-Kwamankese, Mfantsiman, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem and Twifo-Hemang, Lower Denkyira. Mrs Esther Oyinka, Co-ordinator of the EC/UNFPA/GOG project said the programme, tagged "Time with Grandma" started a year ago. She said role models such as queens and other prominent women in the communities, identified by the district assemblies, were used to mentor teenagers and guide them to adopt good behaviour. The role models have regular meetings, with support from the community and the district assembly. "Sometimes using role plays, the role models share their experiences with the youth and discuss very important health issues like Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV/AIDS and the dangers of early sexual activities", Mrs Oyinka said. According to the Central Regional Director of Health, Dr Aaron Offei, the project had already started showing some good results. "For instance Ajumako Bisease which used to have a school dropout rate of about six to seven a year due to teenage pregnancy, reported none, a year after the project." In addition there is also a drastic reduction in drug use in the same district and as a result many of the districts have expressed interest in the project. Dr Offei said there were plans to expand the project to cater for the reproductive needs of young males as well. Source: Daily Graphic