UNFPA in partnership with the Ghana Health Service for the past three years, organises annual boot camp popularly known as the Adolescent Health Ambassadors Camp (AHAC) to champion the health and wellbeing of young people.  The 2019 AHAC, currently underway at the University of Ghana Legon will last for three days. Edutainment will be the primary approach in equipping the young people with knowledge to aid them understand how to preserve their health and wellbeing.

The vulnerability of young people at every phase of their life is the reason for which UNFPA seeks to ensure they have safe spaces, and influence grounded in their agency and rights.

The boot camp themed on “Equipping young people as health ambassadors for sustainable development” gathered over 700 young students including persons with disability across all regions of Ghana.

Addressing the participants, UNFPA Ghana Country Representative, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape stated that, ‘the camp will provide adolescents with vast opportunities for networking to enable them engage among themselves. “The power of young people is probably the most untapped resource in the global endeavours towards achievement of health for all.” Mr.  Ojuolape added. He urged the young people to raise awareness about the SDGs every day alongside creating projects in their communities.

Also speaking at the event, Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Head of the Family health Division at the Ghana Health service remarked that his outfit is committed to ensuring that the health and wellbeing of young people is safeguarded, because they are the future of the nation.

Topics for discussion at the camp include: the role of the Heath Ambassador in achieving the SDGs, adolescent development and human reproduction, and presentations on abortions and its complications, sexually transmitted infections, among others.