Dr John Yabani, Tema Metropolitan Health Director, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said the sponsorship could be in kind or cash to enable the Directorate carry out educational programmes among the youth.

Dr Yabani added that whereas government provide training for adolescent friendly health providers, organizations could also help by sponsoring their activities as part of their corporate social responsibility.

He added that it was sad that some organizations either turn down their proposals for sponsorship or do not reply to the directorate at all.He also urged government to release funding to schools which could be used to promote adolescent club activities.

Mrs Grace Amewu, Adolescent Focal person for the THD, said the Directorate has presented over 20 sponsorship proposals to public and private organizations without receiving any reply.  Mrs Amewu said her outfit was in dire need of sponsorship to embark on some research activities into how to improve adolescent health in the Metropolis.

She explained that research was very important in the implementation of interventions as that would provide the Directorate with the needed facts and figures for the drafting of effective policy interventions.

The sponsorship, she noted, would also enable them build the capacity of adolescent facilitators, organize seminars for stakeholders and adolescents, health promoting activities and establishment of more adolescent health corners, and school clubs. She added that it was their dream to print a bi-annual adolescent magazine to be distributed to schools as reference materials noting that the youth would be encouraged to write and share their experiences with their peers.

Mrs Amewu appealed to communities to establish and maintain adolescent corners in their communities as the consequences of the actions of an unguided youth would have a rippling effect on the whole society.