East Province records over 12,000 cases of teen pregnancies in six months
By Staff Reporter.
Eastern Province has recorded over 12,000 cases of teenager pregnances in the first six months of 2019.
Provincial Health Director Dr Kennedy Kabuswe stated that the region had recorded 12,345 cases of adolescent pregnancies, an indication of a reduction from 14,402 cases recorded in the same period last year.
Dr Kabuswe attributed the 2,056 reduction of adolescent pregnancies to the strengthened coordinated interventions that were being carried out with support from cooperating partners.
“To reduce cases of teenager pregnances, the Ministry of Health has partnered with the Ministry of Education in providing sexuality education among schools in the region,” said Dr Kabuswe.
Dr. Kabuswe disclosed that Chipata which is the mother district of Kasenengwa and Chipangali recorded the highest teen pregnancies with 3,719 while Petauke which also represents Lusangazi recorded the second highest with 1,571.
” Katete and Sinda recorded 1,252 and 1,099 respectively while Lundazi recorded 869. Lumezi recorded 788, Chasefu 743 while Nyimba recorded 694 cases of adolescent pregnancies. Mambwe recorded 436 while Vubwi recorded the lowest number of 372,” he said.
And Dr Kabuswe disclosed that 28,000 girls aged 14 years old in the province received the Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) vaccine in the just ended Child health Week.
