Ghana: Savana Signatures Responds to SGBV

People of Nabu have commended Savana Signatures for its anti-sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) campaign in Nkwanta North area of Oti Region in Ghana.

Specifically, the Nkwanta North District Health Director, Muhammudu Aziz, commended Savana Signatures for implementing the ‘I Matter’ project in the area.

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) was recognised at an outdooring ceremony of mother-to-mother support groups.

With support from the Grand Challenges Canada, the NGO implemented the I-Matter project to reduce SGBV in the area.

More than one in every five girls in Ghana is married before the age of 18 and five percent are married before their 15th birthday, according to 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey.

The NGO used interactive discussions and media programmes to stimulate dialogue among students, teachers, parents, and community leaders.

‘Through the project, parents now demonstrate a keen interest in supporting the girl-child to enrol in school’, Aziz said.

‘The mother–to–mother support group has also helped other women in health issues; just a month ago, members of the support group supported a lactating mother on ways of improving her baby weight after the health practitioners said her baby is underweight’.

Speaking at the event, Community Health Nurse at the Nabu CHPS, Agbesi Sitsofe, thanked Savana Signatures and its partners for coming to their aid.

‘The lack of respect for health staff coupled with cultural norms that made life extremely difficult for women and girls in the community got me planning to leave the community till Savana Signatures intervened with the implementation of the mother-to-mother support group’, Sitsofe said.

‘I was given a very important role to play in the project implementation and since then, life in the community is interesting’.

Sitsofe said after Savana Signatures set up the groups, the NGO supported them with manuals used to guide the training of the women.

‘After the training, parents now provide the girl-child with disposable sanitary pads and also are committed to curbing teenage pregnancy and making sure every girl stays in school, even during pregnancy’, he said.

Ghana has committed to eliminating child, early, and forced marriage by 2030.

Source: Modern Ghana

Photo source: Savana Signatures

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

About the Author