Keta: The Students' Representative Council (SRC) of the Keta Nursing and Midwifery Training College (NMTC), in collaboration with the Keta Youth Association (KeYA) and Developers Net, have initiated a two-day community outreach program aimed at empowering adolescents in the Keta township.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative, named ICARE, stands for 'Inform, Care, Act, Respect, Empower,' and was a significant feature of the SRC Week celebrations at the college. The program was conducted across four basic schools in Keta, including Keta E.P Basic School, Keta A.M.E Zion Basic School, Keta R/C Mixed Basic School, and OLA Girls Basic School. The outreach reached approximately 300 students aged between 10 and 16. It focused on menstrual hygiene and drug and substance abuse awareness, with sessions facilitated by health educators from Developers Net and student nurses from Keta Nursing College.
Facilitators employed age-appropriate language, visual aids, and interactive discussions to address menstruation, promote hygiene practices, and raise awareness about the effects of drug and substance misuse. Madam Stella Ativue, a student nurse, highlighted their aim to provide young people with knowledge to protect their future. She emphasized that menstruation should not be a source of shame and that proper hygiene education can help girls build confidence and become healthy young women.
The drug and substance abuse sessions included real-life stories and examples to demonstrate the consequences of addiction, peer pressure, and risky behavior. Mr. Mark Maniasah, a youth empowerment coach and student, stressed the importance of understanding the impact of choices on young lives, aiming to inspire change and resilience through the engagement.
Local leaders and school authorities praised the ICARE initiative for its impactful approach. Madam Rejoice Geraldo, the Headteacher of Keta E.P School, emphasized the value of joint efforts in creating lasting change, stating that empowering adolescents is crucial for securing Keta's future.
Mr. Benjamin Tuduabor, the Keta NMTC SRC Organiser, described the initiative as a significant social intervention by the college. He noted that as health trainees, they have a duty to extend their knowledge beyond lecture halls, with ICARE serving as a call to action that they were proud to answer.
The successful outreach has sparked interest in expanding the initiative to more schools beyond Keta Township. Organizers indicated that a follow-up phase is planned for later in the year, with additional topics such as teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, and mental health to be incorporated. As students returned home with new knowledge and confidence, the message of ICARE emphasized their potential to become agents of positive change in their communities.
