Rongai District Health Director Geoffrey Motari has decried the high rate of teenage pregnancies and mothers in the region.
Citing poverty and ignorance as the main causes of the problem, the health director criticised parents and teachers and also church organisations for abandoning teenage girls. This abandonment, he said, has exposed the girls to irresponsible sexual behaviours resulting in early pregnancies.
While addressing women groups at a health forum organised by his office, Motari noted that statistics had shown that at least 50 teenage girls get pregnant and give birth every year in the region. He observed that early pregnancies among teenagers in the area contribute to poor health, poverty and dropping out of schools, a situation that compounds the problem even more.
He said: “We are concerned by the high rate of births by teenage girls below the age of 18 in this region. Society must not forget the plight of teenage girls. Parents, teachers and the church must play their roles to ensure teenage girls are well informed on irresponsible behaviours that bring about this problem,”
Dr Motari added that by getting pregnant, teenage girls risked dropping out of school exposing their future to poverty while also risking contracting sexually transmitted diseases which could include HIV and Aids.
He announced that the ministry of health will roll out community based health education programmes targeting teenage girls and mothers.