The State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Sarah Ndirabashitsi Mateke has called upon parents and the country at large to join Gorvernment in the fight against teenage pregnancies.
The Minister made her remarks during the National level Dissemination of the 2nd National Strategy to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy engagement that sat in Entebbe on Tuesday 24th January 2023.
Hon. Sarah Ndirabashitsi Mateke noted that teenage pregnancy accounts for over 22 % of all school drop outs among girls aged between 14 – 18 years and continues to wreck havoc in the country.
She noted that Uganda currently ranks 16th out of the 25 countries with the highest rate of child marriage in the world, adding that “With such statistics, we must increase our vigilance on adolescent girls, the success of our efforts can only be measured by their safety.”
Hon. Sarah Ndirabashitsi also revealed that, “according to the cost of inaction study carried out by National Planning Authority in 2022, the country will continue to lose Shs. 645 billion UGX annually on healthcare for teenage mothers and their children if no action is swiftly taken.”
She appealed to parents and local authorities to have deliberate and intentional efforts in reaching out to those with the greatest unmet needs including girls who are part of impoverished, rural populations, as well as rehabilitating and seeking justice for girls who are marginalized or isolated as a result of mental or physical disability, early marriage or early motherhood.
Lydia Najjemba Wasula, The In-charge of ending teenage pregnancy, said that, “Girls should be valued just like other children.” She further signaled the need to create a mindset change for parents who continue to look at the girl child as a source of wealth.
Najjemba called upon all stake holders most especially parents and government to empower the girl child by keeping them in school and tightening the child protection laws if the menace of early pregnancy is to be wiped out of the country.
According to the Ministry of Health, 25 per cent of Ugandan teenagers become pregnant by the age of 19. Close to half are married before their 18th birthday and continue having babies into their mid-40s.
The annual police crime report 2021 indicate that a total of 14,226 girls were defiled in 2021. 281 were defiled by persons who were HIV positive, 122 by guardians, 107 by parents and 60 by teachers.
Over 10,053 victims were aged 15 – 17 years and 80 of them were girls with disabilities.
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