The increased rate of teenage pregnancies along the Lake Victoria basin is threatening the education of young girls and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
This is according to Rosemary Atieno, the Community Mobilization for Positive Empowerment (COMPE) Director who stated that a prompt intervention strategy must be put in place to help mitigate the challenge which includes the conception of education programmes and other teenage girls’ support initiatives.
“We are concerned at the rising rates of teenage pregnancies along the lake region. We have over 30 beaches where the dominant economic activity is fishing. The young girls are forced to exchange sex with fishermen for money in order to buy sanitary towels and manage basic upkeep expenses,” she said.
She noted that exploitation by boda boda riders and fishermen who take advantage of the girls’ poverty was becoming a great threat to the girl child.
Atieno made the remarks when she hosted hundreds of young girls during the commemoration of the International Youth Day 2024 at Nyabera Primary School in Rarieda, Siaya County where her organization donated sanitary towels and educational materials where she promised to ensure a sustained supply of sanitary pads to the girls throughout the year.
“Our organization is also rolling out educational programmes to the school girls, especially on STEM subjects which are marketable subjects but largely perceived as a reserve of the male learners. We have a robust programme meant to engage them with teachers who take them through Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Mathematics lessons during the holidays to strengthen their academic capacity to compete with others,” she noted.
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The organization, in partnership with Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) also conducts sensitization to young girls on gender-based violence and sexual reproductive health rights.
Speaking during the occasion, Eunice Ochieng’, Case Manager, Child and Woman Protection regretted that parents have emotionally abandoned their young girls.
“My plea to parents is to consider talking to your children and also consider seeking help from other offices including child rights organizations and the police,” she advised.
Rebecca Olendo, a nurse at Manywanda Health Centre observed that teenage pregnancy is an issue they have to deal with sternly.
“Sexual education to our young girls is key and parents need to be vigilant. These kids are now exposed to the internet which has explicit content. When our children are on holiday, let’s engage them so that their excess energy can be channeled into meaningful activities,” stated Olendo,
By Erick Nyayiera
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