Philomena and Sophie, the young speakers from Plan programme units in West Africa

01 December 2009: On World Aids Day Plan released its publication ‘Adolescent Sexual Health in West Africa: Rights, Realities, Responses’ to draw attention to the rights and needs of a demographic group that is often neglected in social development efforts. 

Plan is placing adolescents and their rights at the centre of programming and policy decisions, and through the publication looks at their sexual transition from the perspective of their right to live and develop to their full potential.

The launch took place in Ghana to a conference of more than 100 people, including local and international NGOs, UN agencies, government ministry representatives, and Master of Ceremony and national radio reporter Nathaniel Attoh. 

Paying attention to adolescents: needs and rights

In an address made on his behalf to launch the report, Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, Ghana’s Minister for Health, said that it is a call on HIV policy makers and donors to pay greater attention to the needs and rights of adolescents in their work and make more funding available to improve their sexual health.

Philomena Hammond, a 17-year old student from Ghana and guest speaker, added the following:

“This report will help our parents and decision makers know that we should have a say in whatever affects our sexual health.”

The launch was also covered by BBC Network Africa, one of Ghana’s national newspapers, prime time news on national television, 6 local and national radio stations and the Ghanaian government’s official portal to name a few.*

Panelists included contributing author Josef Decosas along with representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS.  

Read our 'Adolescent Sexual Health in West Africa: Rights, Realities, Responses' here.

*Plan accepts no responsibility for the content of external internet sites.