Early pregnancies in Zambia must be declared a crisis – CRHE

Centre for Reproductive Health and Education (CRHE) has called on government to declare the issue of early pregnancies in the country as a major crisis.

CHRE Executive Director Amos Mwale stresses that the numbers of school girls that getting pregnant below the age of 18years is alarming and needs urgent attention.

Mr. Mwale says time and again the issue of early pregnancies has been discussed by relevant stakeholders but it seems the situation is getting worse hence the need for government through the ministry of education to declare the situation as a crisis.

He explains that the young people are the future leaders hence the need to have serious strategies that will protect the girl child from getting pregnant before they complete school.

Mr. Mwale states that the issue of teenage pregnancies is worrying because apart from getting pregnant, young people are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STI’S), HIV and AIDS some eventually get labor complications which may take their life or the baby.

He says in this regard there is need for the minister of education to show leadership regarding early pregnancies among school girls and declare a crisis.