Hospitals in Cameroon are increasingly witnessing cases where adolescents use objects and concoctions to terminate unwanted pregnancies.
Prof. Felix Essiben, a gynecologist/ obstetrician who doubles as President of the Cameroonian Society for Adolescent Health, is worried about the increasing number of cases in hospitals where young people use objects and concoctions in an attempt to terminate unwanted pregnancies.
Prof Essiben Felix
He addressed the risks of unsafe abortions among adolescents recently during a webinar with journalists within the context of the Advocacy for Comprehensive Abortion Care, ACAC project of the Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, SOGOC.
The take-home message from Essiben was to understand that when a pregnancy occurs, it is too late, hence the need for prevention.
To prevent adolescent pregnancies, “improve youngsters’ access to education and information, particularly about sexual and reproductive health. By increasing access to services tailored to the requirements of youth and encouraging the use of contraceptives. Above all, to increase access to abortion care.
Media Professionals during webinar
During the webinar, Comfort Mussa, CEO of Sisterspeak237, reminded journalists how to frame reporting on adolescent health for them to receive, read, or listen to the reports.
“Get into the shoes of the adolescent, and be careful not to be out of touch with the experiences the young people are living. Use the terminologies they understand, and be friendly, someone they can play with and not all-knowing, ” she urged.
Do not lecture but engage in a more conversational tone. Feature young people, peer educators, and young experts in reports, she said.
Comfort Mussa
Mussa highlighted that reporting should not be centered on problems, not crises; but also on the positive and amazing experiences of the adolescents.
By Leocadia Bongben
Publisher cameroonfactfinder.com
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