The Kasese District Woman Member of Parliament, Sarah Ithungu Masereka Baleke, has called for stronger efforts to protect girls from exploitation and create safe environments that enable them to pursue their education and achieve their ambitions amid rising cases of teenage pregnancies in the district.
In February this year, 726 mothers reported to Bwera Government Hospital in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town Council to deliver, with more than 200 of them being young girls having their first or second babies.
A similar situation was reported at Rukooki Hospital in Kasese Municipality, where a health worker revealed that 152 of the 530 mothers who delivered at the facility were teenage mothers.
Dr Hebert Nzeeke, the head of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) system, which monitors deliveries and maternal outcomes across the district, said health facilities register between 10 and 15 teenage deliveries, particularly among girls aged 19 and below.
Dr Nzeeke, who is also the officer-in-charge of Nyabirongo Health Centre IV, warned that teenage pregnancies expose girls to serious health risks because their bodies may not be fully developed to withstand the demands of pregnancy and childbirth.
He said the rising numbers require concerted efforts from parents, schools, health workers and community leaders to protect girls from circumstances that expose them to early pregnancies.
Speaking during celebrations to mark the International Day of the Girl Child at St Theresa Girls Secondary School in Nsenyi, Kisinga Town Council, Kasese District, on Sunday, MP Ithungu said girls need protection at home, in schools and in their communities to overcome challenges that threaten their safety, education and development.
The celebrations, held annually on October 11, focused on promoting girls’ rights and improving their welfare.
As part of the event, MP Ithungu launched a menstrual hygiene programme and donated more than 500 reusable sanitary pads to support the girls’ menstrual health and hygiene.
She said the donation was intended to improve the welfare of the students and encourage them to remain in school.
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The headmistress of St Theresa Girls Secondary School, Rev Sr Florence Mary Kemijumbi, welcomed the initiative, saying it would help restore hope for the future of the girl child.
Sr Kemijumbi urged parents and guardians to work closely with teachers and community leaders to support girls, emphasising that educating and protecting them requires collective responsibility.
She said coordinated efforts among families, schools and community leaders were necessary to give girls the support they need to learn, develop and realise their potential.
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Kasese District ranked third among districts with the highest number of teenage pregnancies in Uganda during the Covid-19 pandemic and in 2022.
Information from the office of the Senior Probation Officer shows that 7,329 cases of teenage pregnancies were recorded in the district during that period, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing efforts to protect girls and keep them in school.
