Teenage pregnancy challenges youth leaders in Makerere 111

15 June 2023, 10:19 am

Byamukama Alozious; byamukamaalozious1993@gmail.com

Youth leaders in Makerere 111, Kawempe division in Kampala city are worried of increasing Teenage pregnancies in the area.

Makerere 111 consists of kigundu, kibe, Dobbi, Good Hope zones among is known to be slum while the residents in a low income earners

Nabatanzi Missa, one of the youth leaders and a social worker in the area says their recent study in the areas indicates that 22%-24% Teenagers face pregnancies. Nabatanzi attributes the causes to the absence of affordable schools, she adds that the area has got only private schools such as Kalerwe community school, City Junior, Child care, kalerwe parents amongst of which none of them meets ordinary costs of poor parents

Nabatanzi revealed that due to had life especially after covid19 left many jobless has made many children remain home and unprotected which is exposing to teenage pregnancy

Furthermore Nabatanzi revealed that as many children get pregnancies, are neglected by their parents and communities.

She has challenged the higher authorities to set up Open safe spaces for youth in which the challenges affecting youths and children can be addressed

According to her open safe space can be a center for self-interaction on matters which affect them which include sexual reproductive health and can be discussed in their peers.  

Nanyenya William, a youths leader in Kigundu zone claimed that Makerere 111 had a Health center 111 which he does not know its where about of today. He adds that amidst such high pregnancies in Marerere 111 ,the health center would have a played a great role such as to preside over safe delivery, giving information on sexual education among others , He adds that the Village Health Teams VHT’s in the area are not equipped with the needful such as  first Aid , training  which also needs quick attention.

Racheal Mutetsi from Ufahari Girls, a community based organization advocating for Girls rights in Makerere want the leaders to stop lamenting instead focus on change. Mutetsi say  most times leaders are called to intervene in situation where a teenage has been impregnated but the  focus is put  on telling sad stories to media yet they can cause a social change if they push polices and laws.

Racheal revealed that, last case of a teenage pregnancy survivor costed her 23 million after a patient had got fistula amidst high medical costs in Uganda.

Ashraf Kakaire, Coordinator of a youth non-Governmental organization called Open Space Forum want the youth’s leader to continue bringing up issues which affect their communities. He says Open space forum for youths has trained youth leader in Makerere 111 on leadership skills, operation of local Government act, budgeting among others and is sure that they can make good resolution which can play a positive change to ending teenage pregnancy in the area.

He adds that Open space has made Makerere 111 a model parish which will lead to high concentration towards helping youth leaders to get leadership knowledge while they advocate for change in their communities they lead.