Adolescent mothers in the Builsa North Municipality are set to receive comprehensive childcare, psychosocial and livelihood support following the commissioning of an Early Childhood Safe Space Centre at Sandema.
The facility, established by the Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organisation (ADDRO) in collaboration with the Builsa North Municipal Assembly, is intended to help young mothers overcome challenges that often accompany teenage pregnancy while promoting the healthy development of their children.
Funded by Episcopal Relief & Development, USA, the centre will provide childcare services for children from birth to 36 months, allowing adolescent mothers to access support and participate in activities aimed at improving their wellbeing and livelihoods.
Services at the facility will include caregiver support, peer-to-peer learning sessions, home visits, psychosocial support, skills training and nutrition interventions.
The centre will also provide cooking demonstrations, kitchen garden support, sexual and reproductive health education, child welfare and health screening services, as well as age-appropriate play and learning activities for children.
At the commissioning ceremony, the Executive Director of ADDRO, Mr Emmanuel Tia Nabila, said the facility was intended to create opportunities for adolescent mothers to rebuild their lives.
He said young mothers frequently experienced stigma, social isolation, economic difficulties, interrupted education and limited access to essential services.
Mr Nabila said the circumstances surrounding teenage motherhood should not determine the future of the affected girls.
He said the centre would provide a safe and inclusive environment where adolescent mothers could access education, psychosocial assistance and practical skills to improve their wellbeing and ability to care for their children.
Ms Geraldine Sicola, Director of the Integrated Early Childhood Development Programme at Episcopal Relief and Development, USA, said the organisation supported early childhood programmes in seven African countries because of the critical importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
She said about 80 per cent of brain development occurred between birth and three years, making nurturing care during the period essential.
Ms Sicola also emphasised the importance of supporting caregivers, particularly mothers, saying children could not thrive if the needs of their caregivers were neglected.
She encouraged the adolescent mothers to care for their own wellbeing while ensuring that their children received proper care and support.
She further urged them to serve as mentors to other young people by sharing experiences that could help protect their wellbeing and future.
The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale, Right Reverend Denis Debukari Tong, commended ADDRO and its partners for establishing the centre but stressed the need for measures to guarantee its sustainability.
He appealed to the relevant authorities to consider extending the School Feeding Programme to children benefiting from the facility.
He also called for consideration to be given to integrating the centre’s staff into the mainstream system to ensure continuity of its operations.
Right Reverend Tong further proposed that ADDRO and its partners consider establishing similar safe spaces in the future for victims of gender-based and domestic violence.
The Overlord Queen Mother of the Builsa Traditional Area, Pognab Atabalie Azantilow, urged the adolescent mothers to exercise caution in their relationships and avoid situations that could result in further teenage pregnancies.
Mr Pontius Pilate Apaabey, Secretary to the Paramount Chief of the Builsa Traditional Area, commended ADDRO and its partners for supporting adolescent mothers and pledged the Traditional Council’s cooperation with the centre.
The Builsa North Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Solomon Akogti, called on residents to take ownership of the facility and protect it from abuse or neglect.
He also appealed to the community to avoid stigmatising adolescent mothers, stressing the importance of creating an environment in which they could access the support they needed.
Mr Akogti said the Assembly would continue working with ADDRO, traditional authorities, development partners and other stakeholders to ensure that the centre remained functional, accessible and sustainable.
