The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has refuted allegations that the administration of iron folic acid medicines to girls between the ages of 10 and 19years is for family planning purposes.

According to the service, the purposes for the campaign is to reduce the incidence of anemia among young girls and adolescents in Ghana.

Speaking at a meeting to promote healthy nutrition-friendly meals for children, Central Regional Director of Health, Dr. Akosua Sarpong explained, the campaign is in response to the high anemia rate arising out of the demographic and health survey conducted in 2014.

The survey, she indicated had a percentage of 48 per cent of girls suffering from anemia.

But some teachers and parents believe the drug is a family planning drug that would consequently affect childbirth of the children when they grow up.

As a result of the misconception, many girls when given the drugs, either refuse to take them or take them, pretend to swallow them and throw them away at the blindside of health officials administering the drugs.

But, Dr. Sarpong insists the administration of the drug is in responds to a public problem that affects children and women throughout the life course and results in a high burden of morbidity and mortality.

She stated, “Our push for the nutrition-friendly school initiative program is for the children, most especially girls to grow healthy and to reduce the incidence of anemia that has been on the increase.”

She further disclosed that anemia is an urgent public health problem that affects children and women throughout the life course and results in a high burden of morbidity and mortality and all should help to support its fight.

Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan, intimated there should be a deliberate push for healthy food among children in the region to improve health and educational outcomes.