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Shock as Mombasa County records a total of 2298 teenage pregnancies in just three months-KDHS Survey


Youths during a session at Mid view Hotel Mombasa
BY PETER KOMBE

Activists in Mombasa County want the county government to prioritize and invest in the health of young people following an upsurge of teenage pregnancy.

This is after the county recorded a total of 2298 cases of pregnancy amongst girls aged 10- 19 between December last year and February this year.

The survey sourced from the Kenya Demographic Health Survey and the department of health in Mombasa County indicates that a total of 616 girls were recorded in the month of December last year with the number shooting to 749 in January 2019.

The source further states a steady increase of 933 girls in the month of February 2019.

The civil society has been at the fore front in advocating for the implementation of the adolescent and young people strategy paper launched a few months ago by the county government of Mombasa.

Speaking to journalist in a Mombasa hotel on Saturday Mombasa county school health coordinator Baraka Imani appealed for concerted efforts between the various stakeholders in addressing the challenge.

He termed the matter a an urgent issue that require immediate redress

“We need to join together in this fight. These are not just numbers we need to collectively work together” he said

While Young Women Leadership Institute programs manager Nicole Chesoni states that there is a need for the county government to prioritize on sexual reproductive health and rights.

She admits that there is a gap that needs to be addressed on issues of sexual reproductive health and rights.

“Counties should give first priority and prioritize on the health of young people. It is their right” she noted

She says health rights among young people is a constitutional mandate.

Nicole sates that there is a need for the county government to invest in youth friendly services so that they can access services with ease.

“I want the county government to allocate funds for YFS. By doing this the youths will be able to access the services”

Juliet Akumu Youth Advisory Council president wants the county government to allocate a budget on reproductive health to cater for the needs of young people.

She further wants the youth to own the AYP Strategy paper saying if forms a basis of their health rights.

“Budget is very important. This will ensure that young people get their services with ease” she noted

She urged the county government to implement the AYP Strategy paper launched a few months ago.

According to her youth friendly facilities are inadequate and should therefore be increased to cater for the needs of young people.

“I want to tell young people that they must own the AYP Strategy paper” she said

Dream Achievers Youth Organization health rights activist admits that there exists a gap that needs to be addressed.

He appealed to both the national and county government to harmonize the national health policy in order to address some of the teething challenges that youth face.

“Yes there is a gap that should be addressed” she noted

He argues that the media plays a critical role as far as reproductive health and rights is concerned.

The activist insists on a joint approach by all the stakeholders including the civil society and the ministry of health in addressing some of the health challenges that youths face.

“We need a combined approach. This is alarming. Young people play a pivotal role in this country” Gaitano said













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