Govt in eight-month drive against teenage pregnancies

The government has launched an eight-month campaign against teenage pregnancy. The campaign, the second of its kind, will be conducted by the Ministries of Gender and Family Promotion, and Education in more than 90 schools countrywide.

The 2010 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey shows that 6 per cent of girls aged between 15 and 19, especially in rural areas, have already began bearing children.

Similarly, 2011 figures from the Education ministry indicate that Western Province had the highest number of adolescent pregnancies, with 177 cases recorded. It was followed by Northern Province with 141 cases, Southern Province 130, Eastern Province 110 and Kigali 56.

Henriette Umulisa, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, speaking at the launch of the campaign in Kigali, yesterday, said parents have a big role in imparting morals in their children to prevent teenage pregnancy.

Alfred Munyentwari, a representative of parents at the conference, said parents and guardians need to strike a balance between work and parenting responsibilities.

“When you create a bond with your child, they find it easy to ask about youthful challenges like puberty and peer pressure,” he said.

Munyentwari also partly blamed poverty for teenage pregnancies, as sometimes perpetrators of the vice use their resources to lure girls into early sex, leading to pregnancy.

According to a 2011 World Bank report, poverty levels in the country stand at 45 per cent.

Emmanuel Hategeka, a Mathematics teacher at GS Mwendo, in Gashora, Bugesera District, said there is need to create teen clubs in all primary and secondary schools, where sexual reproductive health messages can be effectively conveyed.

Aline Kamariza, 16, a Senior Two student of Apapec Murambi in Bugesera, said the anti-teenage pregnancy campaign can only be successful if students, school administrators and local leaders take full ownership.

The New Times

UM– USEKE.RW