Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Kundhavi Kadiresan
World Bank country Director Kundhavi Kadiresan has disclosed that US$50 million dollars has been set aside to support girls education and women empowerment programmes in Zambia.
Ms. Kadiresan says the World Bank has seen as urgent to help Zambia address the crisis of adolescent pregnancies and child marriages top save the future of the girl child.
She explains that it is therefore important that the ministry of community development mother and child and the ministry of Gender work closely with other line ministries to help curb the problems being faced by young girls.
Ms Kadiresan says some of the research findings of the challenges and opportunities faced by adolescents in Zambia especially from poor families include limited education and economic opportunities, very short transition to adulthood, early sexual debuts, high prevalence of child marriages and high prevalence of teenage pregnancies which perpetuates a vicious cycle.
She notes that the program will help keep girls in school and support their livelihood.
Ms Kadiresan says there is need to be practical and address the challenges being faced by girls and women to build a better Zambia.