Bungoma Deputy Governor Janepher Mbatiany has called on teachers and school principals to take a frontline role in tackling the “triple threat” of teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence (GBV), and HIV infections among learners.
Speaking on Tuesday at Milimani Gardens during a sensitization programme for guiding and counselling teachers, Mbatiany said the three issues remain some of the most pressing challenges facing young people in the county.
“This crisis is not just about statistics—it is about lives,” she said. “Teenage pregnancy disrupts education, GBV shatters confidence, and HIV continues to rob our young people of their future.”
The Deputy Governor cautioned that while donor-funded programmes have long supported prevention campaigns, their withdrawal often leaves gaps that threaten progress.
“For many years, donors sustained awareness and prevention, but unless we embrace homegrown strategies, the progress made will be lost,” she warned.
To strengthen local efforts, Mbatiany unveiled the Equalizer Programme, a county initiative designed to group learners by age and character for mentorship and peer support. She urged schools to form internal clubs and forums to ensure sensitization is sustained at the grassroots.
Education stakeholders in attendance welcomed the programme, noting that it would complement ongoing school-based counselling services.
Mbatiany, however, stressed the urgency of the situation, warning that failure to act decisively could have long-term consequences for the region.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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