Central University and Prampram SHS Team Up for Adolescent Health Empowerment

Prampram Senior High School recently buzzed with an impactful health education event held on May 15, 2025, in its multi-purpose hall. This vital program, organized in collaboration with the Central University Nursing Students Association (CUNSA), featured Mr. Benson Owusu, a distinguished medical research lecturer, who delivered an engaging and incredibly informative session on crucial adolescent health topics.

Mr. Owusu connected with students through a motivating address, creating an open and comfortable atmosphere for learning. He covered essential aspects of adolescent development and well-being, including

• Understanding puberty and physical changes: Mr. Owusu thoroughly explained menstruation for girls and wet dreams for boys, demystifying these natural processes. He detailed the various bodily changes experienced during puberty, such as chest broadening and penile enlargement in boys, and the development of pubic hair in both genders. He even shared a unique tip for male personal hygiene using lime on private parts to neutralize odor, especially for those who don't bathe regularly.
• Prioritizing personal hygiene and reproductive health: A significant portion of the talk focused on the importance of personal hygiene. Mr. Owusu emphasized regular bathing, brushing teeth, and limiting odor-causing foods like garlic and onion. For girls, he stressed the criticality of maintaining vaginal health, explaining its natural self-cleaning process and how diet can influence its scent. He provided a practical demonstration on proper anal cleaning techniques after using the restroom to prevent infections. He also cautioned against inserting anything into the vagina, as it can disrupt its natural, disease-fighting bacteria.
• Mastering menstrual hygiene: Mr. Owusu offered practical, hands-on advice for girls on menstrual hygiene, demonstrating the correct way to insert a sanitary pad. He highlighted the importance of frequently changing pads, ideally every 8 hours or more during heavy flow, and showed how to properly dispose of used pads by wrapping them before placing them in a bin.
• Testicular self-examination: Testicular Self-Examination for Boys For boys, He continued to underscore the importance of thorough testicular self-examination as a proactive measure against potential health issues like infertility. He advised regular checks of not just the testicles and penis, but the entire body for any unusual changes.
• Speaking out against sexual abuse: Mr. Owusu addressed the critical issue of sexual abuse, which affects both males and females. He empowered students with a powerful message, teaching them to identify and protect their private parts and to report any instances of abuse to trusted adults like parents or teachers.

The session concluded with an active question-and-answer segment, where students eagerly posed questions. Mr. Owusu provided clear and comprehensive answers on various topics, including

• Condom Usage and Pad Disposal: He demonstrated the correct way to use a condom and reiterated the proper disposal methods for sanitary pads.
• The Menstrual Cycle: He explained the typical menstrual cycle duration (around 28 days) and advised seeking medical attention for cycles shorter than 3 days or longer than 7 days.
• Body Odor and Vaginal Scent: He addressed concerns about both general body odor and the natural scent of the vagina, offering practical solutions for management.
• Abdominal Pains: He clarified that while some abdominal pain before menstruation is normal, persistent or severe pain should be investigated by a doctor, as it could be linked to conditions like endometriosis or fibroids.
• Reproductive Health Facts: He confirmed that women typically have one womb, capable of carrying multiple fetuses, and explained that unfertilized eggs are shed during menstruation.