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By JULIUS OCUNGI
Gulu. Gulu District leaders and civil society organisations have called on the government to come out with stringent policies that will see the reduction in teenage pregnancies, and child marriages.
During a public dialogue organised by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Gulu Town on Monday, the leaders expressed concern that with the current abuses, children face a bleak future.
The district vice chairperson, Mr Isaac Newton Ojok, noted that out of every four deliveries at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, two are girls below 18 years, adding that most of the deliveries are done by caesarian section.
Appeal for unity
“Let’s rise up and address this vice together, we are experiencing the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the region which has put level of education among the girls at a low rate,” Mr Ojok said.
The deputy Resident District Commissioner, Mr Tonny Awany, attributed the growing trend of early teenage pregnancy to some of the traditional cultural practices such as paying for dowry.
“Girls in our society are seen as potentials for bringing wealth to the family. Some parents, because of the love for money, go an extra mile to marry them off to those capable of paying dowry,” Mr Awany said.
“We want to clearly sound a warning to such parents and men with ill interest in young girls to stop or face arrest. Our efforts at the moment are set on working on some loopholes in a bid to see early girl child pregnancy curbed, adds Mr Awany.
UNFPA head of communication Prossy Nakanjako called on the government and the stakeholders to invest in girl’s education to enable improvement of the girl child education that has been eroded by the cultural norm in the region.
“This vice has negatively impacted on the lives of our young girls in terms of health, education and socioeconomic wellbeing. A law put in place will see girls educating at the same pace with boys in the country,” Ms Nakanjako said.
The leaders were speaking ahead of the campaign of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, which started yesterday in the district.
The campaign aims at raising awareness, influencing behavior change, and securing high level political commitment to end gender-based violence.
“Let’s rise up and address this vice together, we are experiencing the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the region which has put level of education among the girls at a low rate,” Mr Ojok said.
The deputy Resident District Commissioner, Mr Tonny Awany, attributed the growing trend of early teenage pregnancy to some of the traditional cultural practices such as paying for dowry.
“Girls in our society are seen as potentials for bringing wealth to the family. Some parents, because of the love for money, go an extra mile to marry them off to those capable of paying dowry,” Mr Awany said.
“We want to clearly sound a warning to such parents and men with ill interest in young girls to stop or face arrest. Our efforts at the moment are set on working on some loopholes in a bid to see early girl child pregnancy curbed, adds Mr Awany.
UNFPA head of communication Prossy Nakanjako called on the government and the stakeholders to invest in girl’s education to enable improvement of the girl child education that has been eroded by the cultural norm in the region.
“This vice has negatively impacted on the lives of our young girls in terms of health, education and socioeconomic wellbeing. A law put in place will see girls educating at the same pace with boys in the country,” Ms Nakanjako said.
The leaders were speaking ahead of the campaign of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, which started yesterday in the district.
The campaign aims at raising awareness, influencing behavior change, and securing high level political commitment to end gender-based violence.
THE BACKGROUND
According to the district education department, 7,876 pupils drop out of primary schools every year, representing 10 per cent for boys and 35 per cent for girls. Uganda still ranks high with about 25 per cent of teenage pregnancies in sub-Saharan Africa. In East Africa, its estimated that 134 births per 1,000 women are aged between 15-19 years, according to UNFPA.
According to the district education department, 7,876 pupils drop out of primary schools every year, representing 10 per cent for boys and 35 per cent for girls. Uganda still ranks high with about 25 per cent of teenage pregnancies in sub-Saharan Africa. In East Africa, its estimated that 134 births per 1,000 women are aged between 15-19 years, according to UNFPA.
CREDIT SOURCE: DAILY MONITOR
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