Parents in Kisii County have been urged to give adequate advise to their children to avoid the rise of teenage pregnancies among secondary school girls in the area.
According to a Kisii based health advisor officer Annette Moraa, there have been cases of school teenage pregnancies reported across the county, and it indicates that majority of students, especially girls are engaging in unprotected sexual adventures.
“I have been to various hospitals in the county and cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are also very high among students reported, including having contracted HIV/Aids, candidiasis, clymadia, and syphilis,” she said.
She added that since the students cannot abstain, the government is obligated to provide condoms to the youth as a possible measure to curb the risks involved with engaging in unprotected sex.
She called upon the county government to plan advocacy programmes with the education stakeholders, including head teachers, line ministries, parents and youth organizations to sensitise them on the importance of sex education, so that they can pass information to the students.
She said most girls interviewed complained of harassment and pressure from male teachers for sex favours, which they found difficult to refuse for fear of victimization.