Wina calls investment in reproductive health education for young women

Republican Vice President Inonge Wina noted the need to invest in reproductive health education for young women especially those in rural areas in order to curb teenage pregnancies.

Ms Wina says the issue of teenage pregnancies is still a challenge for Zambia.

Speaking when UNFPA Country Representative Dr Mary Otieno called on her yesterday,Ms Wina noted that the country is losing its young population due to complications associated with early pregnancies.

The Vice President says although current emphasis of the government is on early marriages,the fight against teenage pregnancies should also be reinforced.

She says many girls are forced into early marriages because they fall pregnant first.

The Vice President and the UNFPA Country Representative both agreed that a multi sectoral response would be the most effective way of addressing this issue as it would provide policy direction and programme coordination.

And UNFPA Country Representative Dr Mary Otieno pledged to continue with assistance to the government in addressing issues of reproductive health and other related areas like teenage pregnancies.