The West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) and its partners, including the Ghana Health Service, Ministries of Health in Ghana and Togo and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) among others, on January 13 & 14 launched the 2020 cross-border massive mobilization campaign on Family Planning and HIV/AIDS through a ceremony held at Aflao border area in the Volta Region.

The fourth in series of the cross-border activity led by WAHO in the sub-region, seeks to leverage on the support of government health systems in West Africa to increase Family Planning information and services for people living in and around border towns.

The activity, which takes the form of a sexual and reproductive health information and service exchange, welcomed Ghanaian and Togolese health workers, advocates, officials and policymakers to jointly promote the uptake of family planning amongst inhabitants of border areas including Aflao.

At the ceremony to launch the campaign on the Ghana side of the border, the Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Alexander Abban, urged people to take up Family Planning, saying, ‘it is one of the most efficient methods to improve maternal health. He also added that, ‘Family Planning prevents avoidable deaths of mothers and children, while reducing the need for abortion, especially unsafe ones.’

In a solidarity message, the Country Representative of UNFPA Ghana, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape lauded the efforts of the cross-border campaign, saying, ‘the integration of Family Planning and HIV is going to be vital for implementing the ICPD Program of Action, reducing HIV infections among young people, while contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of ‘Good Health and Wellbeing.’

A spectacle that got the attention of both Ghanaian and Togolese participants at the event was a skit by some of the local folks in Aflao. They used the performance to explain to participants from the local communities present; the need for family planning, the options available and, how it was not only a decision for women to take but also, men.

As part of the campaign launch, health screenings and exhibitions took place simultaneously to deliver knowledge to participants on Family Planning and prevention of STIs.