Zambia: The Zambia Ministry of Health has expressed their concern on the high rate of teenage pregnancies recorded in the country. The Ministry of Health has clarified that they have put in many interventions to prevent the problem, but the issue still remains.
The Ministry is concerned that the people of the country, especially those in the remote areas are not supporting the efforts of the administration. The officials have shared that the Ministry of health has been working hard to ensure that the people understand the adverse affects of early pregnancies.
The healthcare experts believe that the early pregnancies can lad to health complications for both the new mothers and the children. In several cases, these issues can also translate into lifelong problems.
As such, the administration is concerned with the situation that they are witnessing in the district. The officials have shared that the Ministry of Health is still continuously working to educate people on the problems associated with early pregnancies.
Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kennedy Lishimpi has disclosed that Zambia recorded a slight decline in teenage pregnancies. The comparison was made  from the year 1992, when the number stood at 31% to 29 percent in 2018 a figure that has however remained stagnant.
He has described the situation as a public health concern as it has a negative impact on the health of both the girls as well as their children who are the future of the country.
Dr Lishimpi said this during the launch of the Dissemination of Findings of the Teenage Pregnancies Study in Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia today.
The Zambia Ministry of Health in collaboration with Clinton Health Access and Family Health and Nutrition and support from partners, conducted a study to determine the factors contributing to teenage pregnancies in the two regions of the country.
One representative from the Clinton Health Initiative, Hilda Shakwelele says her organisation remains committed to supporting governments efforts to reduce teenage pregnancies.
Meanwhile, Chieftains Kawaza has called for inclusion of both girls and boys in the fight against teenage pregnancies and child marriages.